A SCHOLARS’ FORUM: JUDGE SAMUEL A. ALITO, JR.

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities hosted a forum on January 4, 2006, to evaluate the impact of Judge Samuel A. Alito’s judicial record on civil rights, employment discrimination, search and seizure, and immigration. President George W. Bush, on October 31, 2005, nominated Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

The forum convened at The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke Law School during the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Conference held January 3-7, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Top legal scholars from North Carolina Central University School of Law, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, the University of the District of Columbia School of Law, Florida A&M University College of Law, Southern University Law Center, and Howard University reviewed Alito’s extensive record to determine how his opinions would impact the African American community.

The event received national media coverage from C-SPAN, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. Howard University’s radio station also publicized the event. The forum was approved for four MCLE credits in Texas. MCLE credits have been requested in Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Leonard Spearman, director of the Center for Government Law at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Marcia Johnson, director of the Earl Carl Institute at Thurgood Marshall School of Law served as coordinators of the event.

Click here to view summary highlights of the conference.