Annual Supreme Court Round-Up - Thursday, July 15

Please join the Houston Lawyers Chapter of The Federalist Society for our annual review of key cases decided during the United States Supreme Court's recently concluded 2009/2010 Term.

This year's panelists will feature the Honorable Sylvia Matthews, Judge, 281st District Court; Allyson N. Ho, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; and Professor Matthew J. Festa at South Texas College of Law.

The panelists will review numerous cases, including McDonald v. Chicago (incorporation of 2nd Amendment); Free Enterprise Fund v. PCAOB (separation of powers); Citizens United v. FEC (corporate election spending); Skilling v. United States (Enron fraud), and Bilski v. Kappos (business method patents).

• Thursday, July 15, 2009
  Registration and Buffet Begins at 6:00 p.m.
  Program Begins at 6:30 p.m.
  Beck’s Prime • 1001 E. Memorial Loop (Memorial Park)
  
  $25 paid online in advance • $15 for government employees, paid online in advance
  
  
  Please RSVP by Monday, July 12.
  Please click the link below to RSVP and pay in advance.
  http://www.acteva.com/organizer/act_display.cfm?eventid=205825
  Email RSVPs also accepted at houston.fed.soc@swbell.net

CLE Credit Requested. Seating is limited.

Law Professor and Scholar John Yoo Discusses Executive Power

Law professor, legal scholar and author John Yoo addressed the Houston Lawyers Chapter of The Federalist Society at a lunch presentation on Thursday, February 25. Yoo is a well regarded expert on issues of national security, foreign affairs, and separation of powers. He has authored three books, including The Powers of War and Peace: Foreign Affairs and the Constitution After 9/11; War by Other Means: An Insider's Account of the War on Terror; and his most recent work, Crisis and Command: A History of Executive Power from George Washington to George W. Bush.

Yoo teaches law at Boalt Hall, the University of California at Berkeley School of Law. From 2001 - 2003, the Yale law graduate served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice. Additionally, he served as general counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee from 1995 - 1996, where he advised on constitutional issues and judicial nominations.

Guantanamo Detainees: Legal Issues and Legislative Options

Congressman Pete Olson, who represents the 22nd district of Texas, discussed legal issues and legislative options for handling Guantanamo detainees during a lunchtime presentation on Tuesday, February 16, at the Houston Club.

As a lawyer and a veteran, Olson demonstrated his knowledge on the subject. The congressman served nine years as a naval aviator in the U.S. Nacy. As chief of staff for Senator John Cornyn, Olson also assisted the senator in the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. A member of the committee on Homeland Security, Olson has criticized the current administration's decision to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to facilities in the United States.