On Monday, February 1, 2010, Amos Guiora and Susan Herman will come together to argue a range of complex and emotional issues surrounding constitutional rights and national security in the 26th Annual Fordham Debate. The debate, to be held from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. in the Sutherland Moot Courtroom at the U of U S.J. Quinney College of Law, is free and open to the public. It will be webcast at http://dashboard.law.utah.edu.
According to Guiora, the debate, titled “Constitutional Rights and National Security: Do We Have to Compromise?”, will focus on how to balance competing rights involving individuals and the state. In particular, it will focus on issues he discusses in his new book, Freedom from Religion: Rights and National Security (Oxford University Press, 2009).
“In my book I argue that religious extremism presents the greatest danger to civil democratic society,” Guiora explains. “Therefore I recommend limiting freedom of speech in the context of extremism, including religious extremism. I look forward to discussing these and other issues with Professor Herman.”
Guiora, a Professor of Law at the U of U S.J. Quinney College of Law, is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces and a regular commentator on issues of counter-terrorism and security. He is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles. His recent works include Constitutional Limits on Coercive Interrogation (2008) and Global Perspectives on Counterterrorism (2007). In addition, Guiora is a Research Fellow at the International Institute on Counter-Terrorism, The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzeliya, Israel, and a Corresponding Member, The Netherlands School of Human Rights Research, University of Utrecht School of Law.
Herman is the Centennial Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School and the current president of the American Civil Liberties Union. She writes regularly on constitutional and criminal procedure issues. Her books include Terrorism, Government, and Law: National Authority and Local Autonomy in the War on Terror (2008) and The Sixth Amendment Right to a Speedy and Public Trial (2006). Herman is a regular commentator and contributor to various electronic and print media outlets, including NPR, PBS, NBC, MSNBC, The New York Times, and Newsday.
The Fordham Debate is named in honor of Professor Jefferson B. Fordham, an outstanding legal scholar and defender of individual and civil rights who joined the University of Utah College of Law faculty in 1972. The annual debate addresses relevant contemporary public policy and legal issues.
The 26th Annual Fordham Debate will be held on Monday, February 1 from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Watch it live online: dashboard.law.utah.edu
If attending, register online: http://www.law.utah.edu/fordham-2010
Lunch will be provided. The debate is offered for 1.0 hour of free CLE credit. Parking moratorium at the Rice-Eccles Stadium. No permit required.