Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Annual Forum Addresses "Road Blocks To Justice: Congressional Stripping of Federal Court Jurisdiction"

How has Congressional limiting of the jurisdiction of federal courts impacted on prisoners’ and immigrants’ rights? Why does depriving the rights of some individuals and groups to vindicate their constitutional claims in federal courts threaten the liberty of all citizens?

On Thursday, April 5, Brooklyn Law School focuses on these issues at its forum: "Road Blocks To Justice: Congressional Stripping of Federal Court Jurisdiction."

This Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law Fellowship Program will examine three recent pieces of legislation that inflict immeasurable suffering to people under sentence of execution, held in conditions that violate civilized standards of decency, and who are threatened with deportation to countries in which they face torture or death. Discussion will also focus on how such congressional attempts to restrict judicial review threaten the balance of powers on which our government is based.

The distinguished panelists at the Sparer Forum will speak on the ramifications of these three Acts. They are highly respected scholars and experienced litigators in the area of habeas corpus, prisoners’ rights, and immigration: John Boston, Director, Prisoners’ Rights Project, Legal Aid Society; Lee Gelernt, Senior Staff Counsel, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project; and James S. Liebman, the Simon H. Rifkind Professor of Law at Columbia University School of Law.

The Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law Fellowship Program was established in 1985 to honor the life and work of Edward V. Sparer, Class of 1959, a scholar, teacher, activist, and a pioneer in the fields of poverty and health law. The Program promotes the public interest work to which Mr. Sparer devoted his life, and seeks to encourage students to pursue public service careers. The Program also provides needed legal services to underrepresented constituencies. Every year it sponsors its annual forum and brings nationally recognized lawyers and public policy advocates to Brooklyn Law School to discuss current issues in public interest law. The forum, this year, is part of Brooklyn Law School’s Centennial Anniversary Celebration.

The forum begins at 4:00 p.m. at Brooklyn Law School: Subotnick Center: 250 Joralemon Street. For further information, please contact the Office of Special Events: 718-780-7322.

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