Seattle University School of Law to host webinar with national legal experts to analyze upcoming SCOTUS affirmative action decisions

Seattle University School of Law will bring together national legal experts to discuss and analyze the impact of U.S. Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action. The court is expected to rule within the next two weeks. 

The webinar will happen the day after the Supreme Court releases its decision, at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET.  It will feature nationally renowned experts in constitutional, discrimination and higher education law discussing what the Supreme Court decided, how and why and what comes next. 

WHAT: Webinar analyzing Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard and UNC

WHEN: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET the day following the release of the Supreme Court's affirmative action decisions.

WHERE: Sign up to receive a webinar registration link once the decisions are released.

WHO: More than a dozen other legal experts from leading institutions and organizations across the United States. 

Welcome/Opening (10 a.m.) [ALL TIMES PT]

Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver and Seattle University Law School Dean Anthony E. Varona 

Roundtable 1 (10:05 a.m.–11:15 a.m.)

The State and Fate of Affirmative Action after Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.: An analysis of what the Supreme Court did, how and why

Moderator: Deborah Ahrens (Seattle University Law Vice Dean for Intellectual Life) 

Featured speakers include:

• Professor Michelle Adams (University of Michigan)
• Dean Erwin Chemerinsky (University of California Berkeley)
• Professor Jeremiah Chin (Boston University/Seattle University as of July 1)
• Professor Lia Epperson (American University, formerly NAACP-LDF)
• Professor Danieli Evans (Seattle University)
• Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig (Boston University)
• Professor Richard Ford (Stanford University)
• Professor Andrew Siegel (Seattle University)
• Professor Ilya Somin (George Mason)

Roundtable 2 (11:15 a.m.– 12:25 p.m.) 

Moving Forward: How Higher Educational Institutions with Diversity- and Access-Rooted Missions May Respond to Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.

Moderator: Steven Bender (Seattle University Law Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives)

• Professor Angelique Davis (Seattle University)
• Professor Meera Deo (Southwestern University)
• Professor Michael Dorf (Cornell)
• Professor Vinay Harpalani (University of New Mexico)
• Bethany Li, JD (Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund)
• Professor Daria Roithmayr (USC; soon University of Colorado)
• Professor Erika K. Wilson (University of North Carolina)

Closing Remarks (12:25 p.m.)

Natasha Martin, JD, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion for Seattle University

Please note: All speakers tentatively confirmed and subject to scheduling availability on the webinar date. Roster in formation; additional speakers may be added/substituted. 

**A second media advisory will be sent when date and time is known following the SCOTUS ruling.**