Program Description
Event Details
The First Amendment is the hottest area of law right now. Many of the most controversial decisions being handed down by the Supreme Court are being brought under some provision of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.....”
- But what do those words mean, exactly?
- Where does the free speech of one person or group conflict with the sensibilities or protections of another?
- What about “hate speech” or political speech that might incite violence?
- When does the “free exercise” of one’s religious beliefs effectively constitute the “establishment” of a religion?
Debates and controversy rage on issues that touch our deeply held religious and/or philosophical beliefs, such as abortion, war, sexual orientation, vaccinations, whether to preserve certain memorials, etc. This four session class will discuss the scope of these First Amendment “freedoms” and some of the key U.S. Supreme Court decisions on these issues. We will not try to solve these controversies; but you will leave with a much better understanding of the backdrop and rationale for the cases interpreting this part of the Constitution. You will read the news about future cases decided by the Court with much keener insight!
There will be some reading materials. Be prepared for lively class discussions!
Registration for the four weeks of discussion is in the first event listing on April 9th. All participants must complete the form on that first session to attend this session.
Sessions will be led by Eleanor Lynn, J.D. - Prior to her retirement in 2018 Eleanor was Of Counsel to Burnheimer & Company, PC in Traverse City for almost 20 years. Earlier in her legal career she was a Litigation Attorney/shareholder with Willingham & Cote, PC in East Lansing, serving as the managing attorney for the firm and specializing in medical malpractice defense work. She was also an Adjunct Professor at the Cooley Law School for a period of time, teaching trial skills. Earlier positions included: Assistant Attorney General III in the Tort Claims Division of the Iowa Department of Justice (previously in Human Services Division), as well as Managing Attorney of the Legal Services Corporation of Iowa. Eleanor started her legal career as Research Assistant to Professor Robert Clinton at the Iowa College of Law, where she worked intensively on Constitutional Law and Native American Law publications.
Eleanor received her BA in History and Political Science with High Honors from the University of Michigan and her JD with Distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law. She is currently a member of the Legal Services of Northern Michigan Board of Directors and serves as Secretary. She also serves on NMC Foundation Board and is on the Finance and Audit Committee and the Planned Giving Committees. Eleanor also served for over three years on International Affairs Forum Board and was on the Board of Governors of Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Antrim Counties for seven years. She is now, in her retirement, an Emeritus Member of the Michigan Bar Association. She occasionally teaches a four-part Extended Education course at NMC on the First Amendment.