2011 Panel & Workshop Descriptions

Please stay tuned for more information about the 2013 panels and workshops.

The Efficacy of Teachers' Unions in Education

Friday, October 28, 2:30 - 4:00 PM - Room 280B

Our speakers will examine the role teachers' unions play in public education, questioning the common wisdom that unions and charter schools are opposed to one another, that pay for performance is antithetical to good teaching, and reexamining the termination practices commonly bargained-for under collective bargaining agreements. This panel will focus on ongoing efforts of school reform and how these efforts are impacted by the presence of teachers' unions.

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Universalizing Universal Jurisdiction? Advancing Human Rights and Ending Impunity through Domestic Courts

Friday, October 28, 2:30 - 4:00 PM - Room 180

While the establishment of an international criminal court and formation of several international tribunals in the last two decades has led to the prosecution of a handful of prominent human rights violators, "vast gaps," according to Human Rights Watch, "persist in the ability to bring to justice persons accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture." The bright hopes of the 1990s, when several European courts indicted Pinochet, delegates negotiated the creation of the ICC, and tribunals began to redress wrongs of conflict in Rwanda and the Balkans, have faded in the face of finite resources, rigid mandates, and the challenges of building political will and international consensus. As international tribunals increasingly downsize, can universal jurisdiction fill the gap? What role can domestic courts play in ending impunity, bringing war criminals to justice, and deterring human rights violators?

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LGBT Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools

Friday, October 28, 4:15 - 5:45 PM - Room 190

What is the proper response to the bullying of LGBT students in public schools? This question is being tackled by educators around the county and this panel seeks to explore the current state of discipline, what the law says on bullying traditionally, the way in which gender norms and technology have changed the playing field, and responses by the legal community.

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Human Trafficking Across Borders and Jurisdictions

Friday, October 28, 4:15 - 5:45 PM - Room 280A

Our distinguished panelists, Sergeant Joshi of the Oakland police force, Jill Morris of the Not For Sale campaign, and Jody Sarich of Free the Slaves, will share insights on their work to stop Human Trafficking on the local, national and international levels. Attendants will leave empowered to take action as modern day abolitionists. Discussion will be moderated by Prof. Deborah Rhode.

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Fraud & Accountability in the Wake of the Financial Crisis

Saturday, October 29, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Room 280A

Bad behavior by financial institutions before, during, and after the financial collapse of 2008 has had a devastating impact on lower- and middle-class Americans, and shows little sign of abating. Who will be held accountable and how? This panel will explore the steps that state government, policy non-profits, and private plaintiffs have--and haven't--taken to protect American consumers thus far, and discuss the opportunities and obstacles practitioners will face going forward.

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Immigration and Administrative Efficiencies

Saturday, October 29, 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM - Room 180

Our speakers will be discussing the current immigration debate in light of the intersection of federalist concerns, labor policies, and educational priorities. Perspectives from scholars, practitioners, and those engaged in policy work will inform a lively debate around the messages inherent in immigration policy as an illustration of national priorities and (dis)united enforcement schemes.

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The People's Budget: A Progressive Approach to Fiscal Reform

Saturday, October 29, 12:30 - 2:00 PM - Room 271

In this workshop, EPI's Andrew Fieldhouse will introduce attendees to the basics of the federal budget process, compare the Congressional Progressive Caucus' People's Budget with the House-passed Republican 2012 budget, and lead a discussion of the future of progressive budgeting.

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Trends in Direct Services: How to Create Social Change One Client at a Time

Saturday, October 29, 12:30 - 2:00 PM - Room 272

How do direct legal services fit into the landscape of lawyering for social change? Can we have a broad social impact by representing individual clients? How do we balance the goals of our clients with our goals for society? This panel will describe the trends in direct legal services that have emerged as answers to questions like these, including interdisciplinary collaboration, empirical evaluation, and unbundled legal services. The panelists will address changes that they have seen as a result of the recession, as well as how law students and future lawyers can be a part of social change through direct legal services.

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Lessons Learned in Social Entrepreneurship

Saturday, October 29, 12:30 - 2:00 PM - Room 283

At this workshop, participants will have the chance to talk with two young social entrepreneurs whose innovative projects have now moved beyond the "proof of concept" stage. Come discuss what works, what doesn't, where funding comes from, and how to engage a broad group of stakeholders - from the grassroots to the IMF.

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Life Sentences for Juveniles: the Constitutional and Policy Issues Raised by Serious Juvenile Offenders

Saturday, October 29, 2:15 - 3:45 PM - Room 280B

In Graham v. Florida, the Supreme Court declared that sentencing juveniles to life in prison without the possibility of parole for non-homicide offenses was unconstitutional. However, Graham did not settle certain questions for courts determining the punishment for serious crimes committed by juveniles, leading some courts to impose effective life sentences on this same class of juveniles. This panel will discuss the legal issues that courts face in the aftermath of Graham, as well as juvenile crime policy and the effectiveness of the criminal justice, probation, and prison systems in the juvenile context.

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Environmental Justice Reexamined: Communities of Color and the Inner City

Saturday, October 29, 2:15 - 3:45 PM - Room 180

Environmental justice extends beyond forest and streams to our neighborhoods and communities. This panel examines the stark effects of environmental injustice on the inner city and communities of color, which often suffer the most harm from poor environmental conditions.

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Casino Justice and Impacts on Tribal Communities

Saturday, October 29, 4:00 - 5:30 PM - Room 280A

American Indians have amassed more wealth today than ever before, largely in response to changes allowing tribes to conduct gambling operations on their territories. This panel explores the role that casinos have come to play in tribal life, the role they should play, and ongoing efforts to secure justice for American Indians of all tribes.

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