U-M Law School to Host ACLU’s Lee Gelernt for Constitution Day Lecture
ANN ARBOR,MI – The University of Michigan law School will host Lee Gelernt,Deputy Director of the American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project,for its annual Constitution Day observance on September 16th at 4:30 p.m. in Hutchins Hall 100.The lecture, free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by the U-M Office of the Provost and will be recorded for later public access. A reception will follow the event.
Gelernt is a nationally recognized public interest lawyer known for arguing high-profile cases, including before the U.S. Supreme Court, and for testifying before both the U.S. House and Senate. He is currently leading challenges to the Trump administration’s policies, most recently securing a U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that prevents the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport members of a Venezuelan gang, as reported by PBS NewsHour.
“I always try to get a program that deals with issues that are very salient at the time,” said richard D. Friedman, the Alene and Allan F. Smith Professor of Law and an expert on U.S. Supreme Court history, who has been instrumental in organizing the U-M Constitution Day event.”Obviously, there are a lot of big issues these days; I think it’s notable to recognize that we are in a very unusual moment. There’s an enormous amount of litigation against the administration that is centered on the constitutionality of some of its actions. This year’s speaker is at the forefront of these issues.”
While some have questioned the federal government’s authority to mandate a Constitution Day observance, Friedman believes it is likely constitutional. Regardless, he emphasized the importance of a leading educational institution dedicating time to consider constitutional issues.
“With respect to constitution Day, I hope attendees will have a better sense that as informed citizens, it’s important to understand the role of our Constitution and some principles of the Constitution,” Friedman stated. “We have for almost 240 years lived under a written constitution. Even though constitutional law often is ambiguous and heavily value-laden, it’s still a very powerful construct and a very powerful aspect of our polity, of our nation’s wellbeing. Along with a deeper sense of the issues of the particular Constitution Day program, I hope people get a fuller understanding of that.”
Gelernt is also an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School and has served as a visiting professor at yale law School. He is frequently sought for commentary in national and international media.More information about the event can be found at https://michigan.law.umich.edu/events/constitution-and-second-trump-administrations-assault-immigrants-rights.
