The Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review is proud to announce its symposium The Ever-evolving Definition of America’s History and Tradition to be hosted on February 6, 2026, at The University of Alabama School of Law. This symposium will examine the Roberts Court’s growing reliance on historical analysis, reflecting a shift towards originalism that has reshaped the Court’s interpretation of civil rights and liberties.
Our Keynote Speaker Deborah Archer, along with our panelists, will discuss the past, present, and future landscape of fundamental rights through the lens of the Supreme Court's "history and tradition" test.
We are currently seeking panelists, who are also willing to commit as contributing authors, for the following panels:
- The Expansion of Executive Power - This panel will assess the expansion of executive power in the context of the First Amendment. Specifically, potential panelists should be able to communicate the effects of such power on administrative agencies, educational institutions, and/or private legal entities.
- Countermovements and the Supreme Court: From Resistance to Tradition - This panel will focus on how the Supreme Court can account for differences in history and tradition, with a specific emphasis on countermovements like the Civil Rights Movement and the Second Founding. Ideal panelists will be able to discuss the experiences of marginalized communities that may not typically be recognized in America's history and tradition.
Best regards,
Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review