In the wake of the 2016 elections, the Law School's inaugural Sidley Austin Forum will address the evolving role of political parties, the state and direction of campaign finance law, changes in news and social media, and related topics.
The Sidley Austin Forum takes place Thursday, December 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at NYU Global Academic Center, 1307 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005.
This annual conference, which explores topics critical to American democracy, is supported by a gift from international law firm Sidley Austin and is co-hosted by the Law School’s Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic, which is held in Washington, DC, each fall semester. NYU Washington, DC, serves as an additional co-host for this year’s forum.
“An important part of our mission is to bring together individuals from various segments of society—academia, law practice, public policy and government organizations, and business—and foster conversations on topics that are central to the future of our nation and the global community,” said NYU Law Dean Trevor Morrison.
Bob Bauer and Sally Katzen, who co-teach NYU Law’s DC clinic, organized the Sidley Austin Forum. Bauer was White House counsel to President Obama, and in 2013 was appointed by Obama to co-chair the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. Katzen was a senior official in the Obama-Biden 2008 transition and held senior positions in the Clinton administration, including deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget and deputy director of the White House National Economic Council.
Reporters who wish to attend must RSVP by Tuesday, December 6, to Michelle Tsai, NYU Law Public Affairs, at michelle.tsai@nyu.edu or 212-998-6849.
Inaugural Sidley Austin Forum: A New American Political System?
Thursday, December 8, 2016
10:00 a.m. Convening of Conference: Welcome Statements
-John J. Kuster, Partner, Sidley Austin
-Sally Katzen, NYU School of Law
-Bob Bauer, NYU School of Law
10:10 a.m. Keynote Address
10:55 a.m. PANEL I: The Role of Parties (and Third Parties)
Moderator:
Rick Boucher, Partner, Sidley Austin; former Member of the United States House of Representatives
Participants:
-Richard Pildes, Sudler Family Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU School of Law -Benjamin Ginsburg, Partner, Jones Day; former General Counsel to Republican National Committee (MSNBC commentator)
-David Keating, President, Center for Competitive Politics
11:55 a.m. PANEL II: The State and Direction of Campaign Finance
Moderator:
Bob Bauer, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence; Co-Director of the Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic, NYU School of Law
Participants:
-Richard Hasen, Professor, University of California at Irvine
-Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU School of Law
-David Donnelly, President and CEO, Every Voice
1:00-2:15 Lunch
1:15 p.m. PANEL III: The Changing Role of the News and Social Media
Moderator:
Sally Katzen, Professor of Practice and Distinguished Scholar in Residence; Co-Director of the Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic, NYU School of Law
Participants:
-Ruth Marcus, Deputy Editorial Page Editor and Columnist, Washington Post
-Jen Psaki, White House Communications Director
3:15 p.m. PANEL IV: Effect of Developments in Technology on the Nature and Dissemination of Political Information and the Conduct of Campaigns
Moderator:
Cameron Kerry, Senior Counsel, Sidley Austin; former General Counsel and Acting Secretary, United States Department of Commerce
Participants:
-Scott Goodstein, Founder and CEO, Revolution Messaging
-Nathaniel Persily, James B. McClatchy Professor of Law, Stanford Law School
-Joe Rospars, Founder and CEO, Blue State Digital
4:15 p.m. Closing Presentation: A Perspective (on the Numbers) on the 2016 Presidential Election
5:00 p.m. Reception