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Symposia

Allen v. Milligan: The Intersectionality of Race, Elections, and Democracy

Hosted by The Alabama Law Review
Featuring Keynote Speaker Evan Milligan, named representative plaintiff in Allen v. Milligan

The Alabama Law Review is proud to announce its 2024 Symposium, Allen v. Milligan: The Intersectionality of Race, Elections, and Democracy to be held at The University of Alabama Law School on February 16, 2024. This symposium explores the history of the Voting Rights Act—an Act with deep ties to the state of Alabama—and considers the changing landscape of election law. The keynote speaker, Evan Milligan, will provide especially enriching commentary on the intersectionality of election law and race. Mr. Milligan, as the named representative plaintiff in Allen v. Milligan, brings a unique personal perspective on these issues. The Symposium will include panels of government officials, litigants, and academics in an effort to provide as complete an analysis as possible of this complex issue. In the current political environment, questions surrounding the franchise are more salient than ever—Alabama Law Review is excited to host this insightful and thought-provoking event.

Date:

Friday, February 16th, 2024

Time:

9:00 am to 4:30 pm CST

Location:

The University of Alabama School of Law
101 Paul W Bryant Dr, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

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Register To Attend And Receive CLE Credit

Full Symposium Schedule

Event Time
Breakfast & Welcome 8:30-9:00AM
Introductory Remarks 9:00-9:15AM Julie Hill, Vice Dean and Alton C. and Cecile Cunningham Craig Professor of Law; The University of Alabama School of Law
Rachel Dees, Special Works Editor; Alabama Law Review

A History of the Voting Rights Act and Gerrymandering

 9:15-10:30AM Moderator:

  • Kirk Walter, Associate Director of Public Services; The University of Alabama School of Law

Panelists:

  • Emily Rong Zhang, Assistant Professor of Law; Berkeley Law
  • Justin Levitt, Professor of Law, Gerald T. McLaughlin Fellow; Loyola Law School
  • Daniel Tokaji, Fred W. & Vi Miller Dean and Professor of Law; University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School

The Role and Perspective of State Legislators and Local Litigants

 10:45-11:45AM Moderator:

  • Frederick Spight, Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Instruction and Interim Director of the Entrepreneurship & Nonprofit Clinic; The University of Alabama School of Law

Panelists:

  • Cynthia Almond, Alabama House of Representatives representing District 63; Almond Attorneys
  • Chris England, Alabama House of Representatives representing District 70; Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party

Keynote Address & Lunch
Special Perspectives of Allen v. Milligan		 12:00-1:30PM Evan Milligan, Executive Director; Alabama Forward

The Future of Elections: A Broader Conversation on the Sanctity of Representative Democracy

 1:45-3:00PM Moderator:

  • Joyce Vance, Distinguished Professor of the Practice of Law; The University of Alabama School of Law

Panelists:

  • Michael Li, Senior Counsel, Democracy; Brennan Center for Justice
  • Jess Unger, Senior Staff Attorney; Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Michael T. Morley, Sheila M. McDevitt Professor; Florida State University College of Law

A Conversation About the Role Race, Gender, and Class Play in Elections

 3:15-4:15PM Moderator:

  • Daiquiri Steele, Assistant Professor of Law; The University of Alabama School of Law

Panelists:

  • Jerome Dees, Policy Director; Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Jennifer Taylor, Lecturer in Law, Clinical Lecturer in Law, Associate Research Scholar in Law, and Executive Director of the Liman Center; Yale Law School
  • Bryan K. Fair, Thomas E. Skinner Professor of Law; The University of Alabama School of Law
Concluding Remarks 4:15-4:30PM Lauren Chambliss & Rachel Dees