Sexual Orientation and the Law Blog

Symposium program at the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock: "Lawyering for Social Justice: Exploring the Roles of Immigration and GLBT Cause Lawyers"

UALR William H. Bowen School of Law presents the 2009 Ben J. Altheimer Symposium
"Lawyering for Social Justice: Exploring the Roles of Immigration and GLBT Cause Lawyers"
Friday, March 13, 2009
8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

CLE credit is available.  Registration is free for students, nonlawyers, and lawyers not seeking CLE credits.  To register, follow this link:  http://www.law.ualr.edu/publications/lawreview/

8:00 a.m.  Check-In with Coffee, Fruit, and Pastries
8:40 a.m.  Welcome
  John M.A. DiPippa, Interim Dean, UALR-Bowen School of Law

8:45 a.m.   Introduction to Cause Lawyering
  Bettina Brownstein, Partner, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP

8:55 a.m.  The Current Legal Issues in Immigration
  Karla McKanders, Associate Professor of Law, University of Tennessee College of Law
  Elise Shore, Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense Fund
  Dr. Andre Guerrero, Director of Programs for Language Minority Students, Arkansas Department of Education

10:10 a.m. Break

10:20 a.m.   Practical Guidance for Immigration Cause Lawyers
  Misty Borkowski, Counsel, James, Carter & Coulter P.L.C
  Guillermo Hernandez, Counsel,The Hernandez Law Firm, PLLC
  Leonardo Monterrey, Counsel, The Monterrey Law Firm
  Milton DeJesus, Law Offices of Milton DeJesus, PA

11:35 a.m. Lunch

12:15 p.m. Ethics Presentation—Ethical Dilemmas Arising in the Practice of Cause Lawyering
  Bettina Brownstein, Partner, Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP

1:15 p.m.  Break

1:25 p.m. The Current Legal Issues in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities
  Zachary Kramer, Assistant Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson School of Law
  Ilona Turner, Staff Attorney, National Center for Lesbian Rights
  Abby Rubenfeld, Counsel, The Rubenfeld Law Office
  David Ivers, Counsel, Mitchell, Blackstock, Barnes, Wagoner, Ivers, Sneddon PLLC

2:40 p.m. Break

2:50 p.m. Practical Guidance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Cause Lawyers
  Zachary Kramer, Assistant Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson School of Law
  Ilona Turner, Staff Attorney, National Center for Lesbian Rights
  Abby Rubenfeld, Counsel, The Rubenfeld Law Office
  David Ivers, Counsel, Mitchell, Blackstock, Barnes, Wagoner, Ivers, Sneddon PLLC

4:05 p.m.  Closing

Illinois Same Sex Marriage Bill Proposed Jan. 13 Set for Committee Hearing

The Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act has been proposed again (Jan. 13, 2009) and is set for a hearing today (Feb. 10, 2009) before the Youth and Family Committee.  A similar bill was proposed in 2007 and although it passed in the House Human Services Committee, it died when the session ended.  See "Illinois Takes Up Gay Marriage Bill", 365 GayNews (Feb. 10, 2009).

Proposition 8 Oral Arguments Set for March 5, 2009

Mark your calendars for the Proposition 8 Oral Arguments.  They will be held on March 5, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until Noon.  The California Supreme Court will issue its opinion within 90 days after the arguments.  Additional information can be found on the Supreme Court Website.