Dean Jeffrey E. Lewis and the faculty of
Saint Louis University School of Law
and the members of the
Saint Louis University Law Journal

cordially invite you to attend the 2007 Richard J. Childress conference

50th Anniversary of Cooper v. Aaron

Friday, October 5, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
at Saint Louis University School of Law
William H. Kniep Courtroom

Each year, the Saint Louis University Law Journal hosts
the Richard J. Childress Memorial Lecture,
an academic event named for the
former dean of the School of Law (1969-1976), Richard J. Childress.
The Lecture series was established from the generosity and commitment
of alumni and friends of the former dean.
Its purpose is to enhance the teaching at the School of Law by bringing world-renowned scholars to our School for academic enrichment.

TOPIC

Cooper v. Aaron: Little Rock and the Legacy of Brown

As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Cooper v. Aaron, keynote speaker David A. Strauss, the Harry N. Wyatt Professor of Law at University of Chicago, will discuss the constitutional and social legacy of this landmark case.

In 1958, the Arkansas Legislature and, state officials including Governor Faubus, openly resisted the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education.  They refused to obey court orders calling for the desegregation of Little Rock’s Central High School.  In Cooper v. Aaron, a unanimous Supreme Court declared that its interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment in Brown was the supreme law of the land and that it had a binding effect on the states.  The Court reaffirmed its commitment to desegregation and reiterated that states are not at liberty to annul judgments of the Supreme Court.

Professor Strauss’ lecture will examine the Court’s decision and consider how it contributes to the legacy of Brown.  A diverse group of academics will provide other perspectives on Cooper v. Aaron and reactions to issues Professor Strauss raises.  The Saint Louis University Law Journal will publish scholarship from the Childress Lecture in its Summer 2008 issue.

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