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Former Independent Counsel Kenneth W. Starr and ACLU National President Nadine Strossen to Debate at Davis Levin First Amendment Conference March 26

Fourth ACLU Conference Focuses on Threats to First Amendment and other Fundamental Freedoms in Post-9/11 World
February 9, 2005

Honolulu - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawai'i Foundation is sponsoring the fourth Davis Levin First Amendment Conference, this year focusing on the threats to fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in a post-9/11 America.

The conference will be held Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom from 10 a.m. to noon. Underwritten by continuing grants from the Robert M. Rees Trust, the event is open to the public. The cost to attend is $5 in advance or $10 at the door. The 2001 event drew over 1,000 people and the ACLU is anticipating more than 1,500 this year including several hundred students.

Kenneth W. Starr, former judge and appointed Independent Counsel and now Pepperdine University Law School Dean, will debate Nadine Strossen, National ACLU President and New York Law School professor. Among the issues that they will discuss are whether there are limits to dissent in the war against terrorism, whether non-citizens should have the right to free speech and whether or not government should become entangled with religion.

Starr gained fame when he was appointed to the Whitewater land investigation in 1994. The Pepperdine University Law School Dean possesses an extensive Washington D.C. resume that includes service as Solicitor General under former President George Bush, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge, and clerk to former Supreme Court Justice Warren Burger. Starr's areas of expertise are antitrust, federal courts and federal jurisdiction, and constitutional law. He appeared at the ACLU’s national membership conference last summer, along with leaders from across the political spectrum, to discuss free speech threats.

Strossen is considered one of the nation’s most influential lawyers. A professor of law at New York Law School, she has written, lectured and practiced extensively in the areas of constitutional law, civil liberties and international human rights. Strossen has received several national awards for her books defending pornography and hate speech. She has led the ACLU since 1991.

"This is a unique opportunity to hear from two national icons on the pressing issues confronting our country today affecting fundamental freedoms", said executive director Vanessa Y. Chong.

The Davis Levin First Amendment Conference was created in 1997 based on continuing grants from the Robert M. Rees Trust and the law firm of Davis Levin Livingston Grande. The conference is named in honor of attorneys Mark S. Davis and Stanley E. Levin for their efforts on behalf of the First Amendment in Hawaii.

The ACLU mission is to protect the fundamental freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Founded nationally in 1920, the nonprofit and nonpartisan organization of more than 400,000 members works daily in the courts, legislature and public forum. It provides its services at no cost to the public and does not accept government funds. The ACLU of Hawai'i affiliate was formed in 1965 and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

For more information, please contact the ACLU office at (808) 522-5900 or visit its website at www.acluhawaii.org


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