2007 Symposium:
Issues in the War on Terror: Investigations, the Media, and Article III Courts.
On November 16, 2006 , the Wayne Law Review, with the support of Wayne State University , the Wayne State University Law School , and the Law School 's Student Board of Governors, will host its annual Symposium. In essence, the Symposium will address the delicate balance that must be struck between fighting an effective war on terror and respecting the civil liberties guaranteed to all citizens under the Constitution.
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center , the United States Government vowed to hunt down and bring to justice terrorist organizations around the world. The government pledged it would no longer sit idly by while domestic and international terrorist groups conspired against the United States and its foreign interests. The time had come to act proactively, especially with the modern day threat of weapons of mass destruction. This mindset spurred the government into action and led to the consolidation of 22 federal agencies into the Department of Homeland Security, passage of the Patriot Act, an overhaul and restructuring of the intelligence community, and the implementation of government programs aimed at identifying terrorists and disrupting their financial and communication capabilities. While the debate is still open as to whether these measures have adequately improved the nation's vulnerability to attack, it is quite clear that the government is testing the boundaries of the Constitution like never before.
Panel 1 will focus on secret evidence gathered by the government through highly controversial investigative methods. The panelists will explore a broad range of topics such as the National Security Agency's wiretapping program, the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act (FISA), bank record searches, money tracking, interrogations, detentions, and the Patriot Act.
Panel 2 will consider the media's responsibility in reporting national security issues. Possible issues to be addressed by the panelists include the First Amendment, access to information, privileges, privacy, secret sources, and the fine line between reporting and undermining the secret programs used by the government to combat the threat of terrorism.
Panel 3 will concentrate on prosecuting and defending alleged terrorists in civilian courts and the unique challenges that face the government, defense lawyers, and judges. For example, there exist many unanswered questions concerning the admissibility of battlefield evidence, the proper use of classified information known only to the government, and the credibility of confessions obtained through military questioning.
We hope this year's Symposium will enlighten the audience with a valuable and informative debate from some of the nation's most prominent and respected lawyers, judges, journalists, and government officials. Additionally, papers presented in conjunction with the Symposium will be published in the Wayne Law Review's Symposium issue.
For additional information, please see schedule below, or contact
Greg Nowakowski at 313-577-8029, lawreview@wayne.edu
Schedule and Speaker Biographies
DETAILS
8:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday, 16 November 2006
Wayne State University Law School
471 West Palmer Street
Detroit, Michigan 48202
Recent Symposia
Past Symposia
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2003
2001
2000
1999
