Academic Conference: Beyond “Defensive Crouch,” Religious Freedom

Videos


Thursday, March 24, 2022
& Friday, March 25, 2022
Hosted Both In-Person & Virtually From
George Mason University
Antonin Scalia Law School
Free and Open to the Public

CONFERENCE DESCRIPTION

This conference will bring together top law and religion scholars, litigators, and policy experts to explore: the goods and values that religious exercise furthers, including institutional religious exercise; how religious values can not only serve, but even better promote the values of equality, dignity, and freedom as currently articulated by the state; and how religious institutions might better understand and communicate the social worth of religion and religious freedom. Findings will be presented in four panels over the course of two days.


CONFERENCE MATERIALS

Conference Brochure


CONFERENCE PROGRAM

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time Zone (EDT)

1:00-1:30 PM:  CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION

1:30-1:45 PM:  OPENING REMARKS

    • Dean Ken Randall, Alison and Dorothy Rouse Dean and George Mason University Foundation Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
    • JoAnn Koob, Assistant Professor of Law and Director, Liberty & Law Center, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
    • Helen Alvaré, Robert A. Levy Endowed Chair in Law and Liberty and Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

1:45 – 3:15 PM: 

    • Gerard V. Bradley, Professor of Law, Notre Dame Law School
    • Elizabeth Clark, Associate Director for the International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
    • Respondents: Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights and Anthony R. Picarello, Jr., Associate General Secretary for Policy and Advocacy and General Counsel, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
    • Moderator: Helen Alvaré, Robert A. Levy Endowed Chair in Law and Liberty and Professor of Law,  Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

3:15 – 3:30 PM:  AFTERNOON BREAK

3:30 – 5:00 PM:  BETTER RELIGIOUS FREEDOM LAW FROM A BETTER GRASP OF “RELIGION”

    • Francis J. Beckwith, Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Affiliate Professor of Political Science, and Associate Director, Graduate Program in Philosophy, Baylor University
    • Alex Deagon, Senior Lecturer in Law, Queensland University of Technology
    • Respondents:  Shaina Huleatt, Associate General Counsel, Bruderhof and L. Martin Nussbaum, Cofounder and Partner, Nussbaum, Speir, Gleason
    • Moderator: Christopher Newman, Associate Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

5:00 – 6:15 PM:   COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSORED BY SIDLEY, AUSTIN LLP

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2022

All times are in Eastern Daylight Time Zone (EDT)

8:00 – 8:30 AM:  BREAKFAST AND CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION

8:30 – 8:35 AM:  MORNING REMARKS 

8:35-10:05 AM:  REIMAGINING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ITS TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY CONTEXT

    • Marc O. DeGirolami, Cary Fields Professor of Law and Co-Director, Center for Law and Religion, St. John’s University School of Law
    • Steven Smith, Herzog Endowed Scholar; Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, Co-executive Director, Institute for Law & Religion, Co-executive Director, Institute for Law & Philosophy, University of San Diego School of Law
    • Respondents: Frederick M. Gedicks, Guy Anderson Chair and Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University and Andrew D. Graham, Senior Counsel of Academic and Professional Affairs, Alliance Defending Freedom
    • Moderator: JoAnn Koob, Assistant Professor of Law and Director, Liberty & Law Center, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

10:05-10:20 AM:  MORNING BREAK

10:20-11:50 AM:  CHILDREN, FAMILIES, CHRISTIANITY, AND CREDIBILITY GAPS

    • David Smolin, Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and Director, Center for Children, Law and Ethics, Cumberland School of Law, Samford University
    • Helen Alvaré, Robert A. Levy Endowed Chair in Law and Liberty and Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University
    • Respondents: David S. Crawford, Dean and Associate Professor of Moral Theology and Family Law, Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, The Catholic University of America and Elizabeth Kirk, Research Associate, Lecturer, and Director, Center for Law and the Human Person, Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America
    • Moderator: Ilya Somin, Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

11:50 AM – 12:00 PM:  CLOSING REMARKS


CONFERENCE SPONSOR