Program Description
Event Details
Public trust and confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court and its “legitimacy” has been seriously eroded in the last ten to twenty years. Is there any basis for that loss of confidence? Are the criticisms levied at the Court fair and objective, or simply “sour grapes” by those who disagree with the Court’s decisions of late? What is the difference between “political conservatism” and “judicial conservatism”? What is the “shadow docket” and what role, if any, does it play in the overall decisions of the Court? How does the Court decide which cases it will hear out of the thousands of requests it receives every year? And how do some of these decisions affect us?
These questions and issues, as well as key cases demonstrating some of the these principles, will be covered in this two-part series on this timely and important topic that should lead to interesting discussions and a better understanding of the Court.
When you register for this session, please understand that you are expected to attend both weeks of discussion. The sessions will be held on two consecutive Fridays from 1-3pm in February - 9 & 16.
Once you have registered, a copy of the articles for the first week's discussion will be emailed to you.
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.