For Immediate Release

Contact: Matt Lehrich, Marie Aberger

*SAVE THE DATES*
“THE SUPREME COURT IN CRISIS: STRUCTURAL REFORM OF A BROKEN INSTITUTION”

Yale Law School, Take Back the Court, American Constitution Society (Yale chapter) to Co-Host Symposium this Fall

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 22, 2020) —Yale Law School is co-hosting a two-part symposium, along with Take Back the Court and the American Constitution Society (Yale Law School chapter), The Supreme Court in Crisis: Structural Reform of a Broken Institution. Pre-eminent law professors from around the country will address judicial reform at two panels, to be held October 13 and November 19.

According to Dr. Aaron Belkin, “The Supreme Court is in crisis, and proposals for reform have surged in response. A topic that was essentially nonexistent for decades has gained significant momentum, and our symposium will address questions about various judicial reform options.” Belkin is director of Take Back the Court and Chair of the symposium.

Professor Samuel Moyn said that “scholars at the symposium will address standards for assessing judicial reform options as well as the viability and costs and benefits of each reform.” Moyn, who is Henry R. Luce Professor of Jurisprudence at Yale Law School and a Professor of History at Yale University, organized the symposium.

The first panel, on Tuesday, October 13, will focus on standards for assessing judicial reform options, and panelists will include:

  • Nikolas Bowie, Harvard Law School

  • Ryan D. Doerfler, University of Chicago Law School

  • Leah Litman, University of Michigan Law School

  • Mark Tushnet, Harvard Law School

  • Aziz Rana, Cornell Law School

The second panel, on Thursday, November 19, will evaluate specific reform alternatives in light of the standards addressed at the first panel, and panelists will include: 

  • Michael Klarman, Harvard Law School

  • Ganesh Sitaraman, Vanderbilt Law School

  • Christopher Jon Sprigman, NYU Law School

  • Laura Weinrib, Harvard Law School

RSVP information to follow. 

Take Back the Court raises awareness about the urgent need to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court to address the theft of the court by Senator Mitch McConnell during the Obama Administration. Without adding seats, Congress will not be able to restore the right to vote, ensure reproductive freedom, protect workers, halt our climate emergency, or pass new legislation. Court expansion, which can be accomplished without a constitutional amendment, is the only reform that enables the un-rigging of the system and the restoration of democracy. Learn more: https://www.takebackthecourt.today/