Stress Fractures in Democracy and The People's Response
The Cleveland State Law Review 2025 symposium inspects heightened pressures against public and private institutions and communities and reviews vehicles for redress available to aggrieved persons: attorney representation and civic participation in governance. The morning program includes panels and speeches on the independence of the judiciary, reform of immigration courts, and nonprofit organizations' efforts to address community issues. Over lunch, the constitutionality of the administrative state is considered. The afternoon features a speech on the gap between people's rights and remedies followed by two panel discussions: one on procedures and recent caselaw concerning impact litigation and another on the role of public discourse and direct citizen participation in keeping American democracy secure. The symposium closes with notes on how the concentration of economic and political power seen in recent years is placing strain on America’s constitutional order.
Agenda
8:15a Sign-in Begins
8:45a–9:00a Opening Remarks
9:00a–10:15a The Independence of the Judiciary
- Maureen O’Connor, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Ohio (Ret.), Charles F. Kettering Foundation
- Michael Donnelly, Justice of Supreme Court of Ohio (Fmr.), Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
- Judge Carly Edelstein, 10th District Court of Appeals for the State of Ohio
- Judge Philip Calabrese, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- Moderator: Dr. Abigail Moncrieff, Cleveland State University College of Law
10:30a–11:00a Morning Keynote: Immigration Court Reform
- Jennifer Peyton, Kriezelman Burton & Associates LLC
11:15a–12:00p Advocating for Communities Under Stress
- Alana Jochum, Advocates for Trans Equality
- John Plecnik, Lake County Commissioner
- Jennifer Peyton, Kriezelman Burton & Associates LLC
- Colleen Jackson, Chief Culture & Engagement Officer, City of Shaker Hts.
12:30p–1:00p Constitutional Grounds of the Administrative State
- Dr. Michael Spicer, Cleveland State University Levin College of Public Affairs
1:15p–1:45p Afternoon Keynote: The Increasing Gap Between Rights and Remedies
- Joseph Mead, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection
1:45p–3:00p Making the Difference Through Impact Litigation
- Elizabeth Bonham, Friedman, Gilbert + Gerhardstein
- Freda Levenson, American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio
- Joseph Mead, Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection
- Moderator: Prof. Doron Kalir, Cleveland State University College of Law
3:15p–4:30p The Voice of The People
- Chris Tavenor, Ohio Environmental Council
- Maria Bruno, Ohioans Against Extremism
- Chris Schmitt, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Dan Mouthrop, City Club of Cleveland
4:30p–5:00p Citizens v. Oligarchs
- Joseph Geevarghese, Our Revolution
Registration
Registration Free: REGISTER HERE
SUPPORTING CSLR
Cleveland State Law Review is a student-led organization dedicated to advancing legal scholarship. To help us in our mission, please consider making a financial contribution. DONOR LINK