Federalist Society Event Audio

On September 11, 2001, at the age of 45 and at the height of her professional and personal life, Barbara K. Olson was murdered in the terrorist attacks against the United States as a passenger on the hijacked American Airlines flight that was flown into the Pentagon. The Federalist Society established this annual lecture in Barbara's memory because of her enormous contributions as an active member, supporter, and volunteer leader. Solicitor General Theodore B. Olson delivered the first lecture in November 2001. The lecture series continued in following years with other notable individuals. In 2011, former U.S. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey delivered the lecture. He was introduced by Mr. Eugene B. Meyer, President of the Federalist Society.

United States Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama opened the Federalist Society's 2011 National Lawyers Convention with an address to all registrants on November 10, 2011. He was introduced by Leonard A. Leo, Executive Vice President of The Federalist Society.

United States Senator Marco Rubio of Florida addressed registrants of the Federalist Society's 2011 National Lawyers Convention on Thursday, November 10, 2011. He was introduced by Leonard A. Leo, Executive Vice President of The Federalist Society.

On October 25, 2011, the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society hosted a debate between Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher and Prof. Gerard Magliocca of Indiana University School of Law - Indianapolis on the constitutionality of the Health Care Reform Act. Introduction by Mr. Brian J. Paul of Ice Miller LLP and President of the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter.

This panel will discuss the new class action law in Mexicoand how it compares with class action laws governing other countries. Our panel of experts will provide an overview of the new law along with insights into the many legal issues the Mexican courts will need to address, what companies doing business in Mexico need to do to prepare, and any potential risks of class action "abuse." This panel was held during The Future of Business Law in Mexico conference on October 20, 2011. Speakers included Mr. Eduardo Facha García, Founding Partner of López Melih, González, Facha y Estrada, SC; Mr. Luis Omar Guerrero Rodríguez, Partner at Barrera, Siqueiros y Torres Landa SC and Head of the Antitrust Section of the Mexican Bar Association; Prof. George L. Priest of Yale Law School; and Judge Carlos T. Bea of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as the moderator.

With Cofeco due to issue its final opinion in its recent action against Telcel, this panel will discuss whether the Ley Federal de Competencia Económica (LFCE – Mexico’s Federal Economic Competition Law) can or should be read to include a price-squeeze cause of action, the ramifications of adopting a price-squeeze theory of liability, and the impact of such a decision on businesses and consumers. The panel will also examine how antitrust enforcement in Mexico compares with other countries – what factors should or must be considered as Mexico moves forward? How should Mexico consider consumer interests? This panel was held during The Future of Business Law in Mexico conference on October 20, 2011. Speakers included Mr. Luis Felipe Lucatero Govea, Head of the Unit for Prospective Analysis and Regulation at Mexico's Federal Commission of Telecommunications; Prof. George L. Priest of Yale Law School; Prof. J. Gregory Sidak, Chairman and Founder of Criterion Economics, LLC; and JudgeCarlos T. Bea of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as the moderator.

As Mexico continues to emerge as an important economy on the international front, how can it best fashion its laws and policies governing business practices and access to the courts? What issues will the Mexican courts need to address under the new class action law? Should Cofeco urge the courts to adopt a price-squeeze theory of antitrust liability? And how might the resolution of these issues impact businesses and consumers in Mexico. These and other important questions were considered by our experts at The Future of Business Law in Mexico conference, held on October 20, 2011, in Mexico City. Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia opened the conference with a keynote address on "The Evolution of Competition Policy". He was introduced by Mr. Dean A. Reuter, Vice President & Director of Practice Groups at the Federalist Society.

October 3rd marks the first day of the 2011 Supreme Court term. This term the Court will hear interesting cases concerning religious liberty, U.S. citizenship, television broadcasting regulation, employment, unions, and many others. A few notable cases include Hosanna-Tabor Church v. EEOC, concerning the scope of the religious "ministers exception" to federal workplace discrimination laws; M.B.Z. v. Clinton, determining whether the courts can enforce a federal statute governing how the Secretary of State is to record the birthplace of American citizens on passports and related documents; Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories Inc., regarding whether a patent claim preempts all uses of naturally occurring correlations between blood test results and patient health because well-known methods used to administer prescription drugs and test blood may involve "transformations" of body chemistry; FCC v. Fox Television, concerning the FCC’s findings that broadcasts including expletives and nudity were indecent within the meaning of statutory and regulatory prohibitions on indecent broadcasts, Knox v. SEIU, which examines whether a state may condition employment on the payment of a special union assessment intended solely for political and ideological expenditures without first providing a notice that includes information about that assessment and provides an opportunity to object to its exaction; and Sackett v. EPA, regarding whether petitioners may seek pre-enforcement judicial review of an administrative compliance order pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. Featuring Mr. Michael A. Carvin of Jones Day; Mr. Thomas G. Hungar of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Prof. Neal Katyal of Georgetown University Law Center; Prof. Adam Mossoff of George Mason University School of Law; Ms. Elizabeth P. Papez of Winston & Strawn LLP; Prof. Mark Rienzi of Catholic University Columbus School of Law; and Ms. Jan Crawford of CBS News as the moderator.

On September 15, 2011, the Chicago Lawyers Chapter hosted the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program featuring this debate. Prof. John C. Yoo of the University of California Berkeley School of Law and Prof. Alberto R. Coll of DePaul University College of Law debated issues relevant not only to the war against terrorists, but also to on-going US and NATO action in Libya and in future conflicts as they arise. The debate was moderated by James Warren of the Chicago News Cooperative and The Atlantic. Introduction by Mr. James C. Dunlop of Jones Day.

On September 15, 2011, the Chicago Lawyers Chapter hosted the 9/11 Tenth Anniversary Program featuring this panel discussion. The distinguished panelists discussed the themes of Confronting Terror: 9/11 and the Future of American National Security from a variety of viewpoints presented in the book. Confronting Terror was edited by Prof. John Yoo of the University of California Berkeley School of Law and leading initial architect of post-9/11 national security policy, and Dean Reuter, Vice President & Director of Practice Groups for the Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy. The panelists included Prof. Arthur Herman of the American Enterprise Institute; Dr. Charles Kesler of The Claremont Institute; Dean A. Reuter of The Federalist Society; and Judge Frank Easterbrook of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit as the moderator.

On August 18, 2011, the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society hosted an event featuring The Honorable Gregory G. Katsas of Jones Day and former Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. The topic of the address was "Defending the Defense of Marriage Act". Introduction by Mr. Brian J. Paul of Ice Miller LLP and President of the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter.

Google’s business practices are currently under review by the Federal Trade Commission, several state Attorneys General, and the European Commission. Competitors and critics assert that the Google search engine, and its search engine’s results, should be reviewed and potentially regulated by government authorities. Google and its supporters assert that it is merely trying to provide the best answers for consumers. In the fast moving technology space, what role -- if any -- should antitrust authorities play in policing search engine methodology and results? How should regulators respond to allegations of "unfairness?" Most recently, the government’s interest in Google has expanded to include questions about its proposed acquisition of Motorola - what is the proper governmental role here? Featuring Hon. Thomas O. Barnett of Covington & Burling LLP; Prof. James Grimmelmann of New York Law School; Hon. Charles F. "Rick" Rule of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP; Mr. Berin Szoka of TechFreedom; and Hon. Ronald A. Cass of Cass & Associates, PC as the moderator.

On July 27, 2011, the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society hosted an event featuring Prof. Brian T. Fitzpatrick of Vanderbilt University Law School. The topic of Prof. Fitzpatrick's address was "The Extra-Judicial Activities of Supreme Court Justices: Is Reform Needed?" Introduction by Mr. Brian J. Paul of Ice Miller LLP and President of the Indianapolis Lawyers Chapter.

On July 12, 2011, Miguel Estrada of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher delivered the Annual Supreme Court Round Up at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Introduction by Mr. Douglas R. Cox of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher.

Both President Bush and President Obama directed comprehensive reviews of America's cyber security strategy. The current Cyberspace Policy Review concludes that cyber security poses some of the most serious economic and national security challenges of the 21st Century. The challenges include cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, cyber espionage, cyber attacks on defense facilities, critical infrastructure and private companies, and cyber theft of personal data. They give rise to complex and interconnected legal and policy issues, in areas such as the law of armed conflict, privacy and the scope of regulation, which will be addressed at this symposium. The International and National Security Law Practice Group presented this conference on June 28, 2011. The second panel on economic security featured Prof. Orin S. Kerr of The George Washington University Law School; Mr. Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center; Mr. John Smith of Raytheon; Mr. Michael Vatis of Steptoe & Johnson LLP; and Mr. Vincent J. Vitkowsky of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP as the moderator.