NIU College of Law Review symposium
to examine emerging issues in election law

The NIU College of Law Review will host its 16th annual symposium, “Emerging Issues in Election Law,” from 8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, March 26 at Altgeld Hall.

A reception in the Marshall Gallery of Swen Parson Hall will conclude the symposium.

The NIU Law Review has assembled a distinguished group of scholars who will explore various issues affecting today’s electoral process. Panelists include a former political adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, the counsels to the Illinois Republican and Democratic parties, the former chairman of the Illinois State Board of Elections, the former chief justice of the Illinois Court of Claims and other leading election law attorneys and professors.

Among the topics to be discussed are the use of technology in voting procedures, renewal of the Voting Rights Act, the court’s treatment of ballot referenda, the future of political gerrymandering claims and the impact of the McCain-Feingold Act.

Both theoretical and practical insight on these and other pressing issues in the field of election law will be presented by expert practitioners, professors and others directly involved with the electoral process.

Premier election law attorney Andrew Raucci will present the keynote address. Previously a chief justice for the Illinois Court of Claims, Raucci is chair of Raucci & Sullivan Strategies, a legislative and government consulting business in Chicago. He also was a partner with the firm of Kusper & Raucci Chartered, where he specialized in governmental law and handled more than 2,000 election cases, covering all aspects of the electoral process at the local, state and federal levels.

Morning presenters include:

• Shawn Flaherty, local/school board election law attorney with Ottosen, Britz, Kelly, Cooper & Gilbert, Ltd.
• Michael Kasper, Counsel and Treasurer of the Illinois Democratic Party and attorney with Fletcher, Topol, O’Brien & Kasper.
• Michael Lavelle, election law attorney and former chair of the Illinois State Board of Elections, with co-authors Kevin Bry and Adam Lasker.
• Deanna Mool, Illinois election law attorney and lobbyist with Mool Law Firm, LLC.
• Professor Steven Ramirez, Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
• Bryan Schneider, member of the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The afternoon panel will be moderated by NIU Law Professor Mark Cordes and features Raucci and:

• Professor Barbara Burrell, NIU Political Science Department.
• Margo Alpert, judicial project director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
• Mark Shelden, county clerk for Champaign, Ill..
• Dan Shomon, former political director and chief of staff for Obama during his Democratic primary and general election wins in 2004.

The symposium fee is $50 for general attendees; $25 for NIU faculty, administration and staff; and $15 for full-time college students. The fee includes materials, lunch and a reception immediately following the symposium.

To register online and/or view a detailed symposium schedule, visit http://law.niu.edu and click on “Current Announcements & Events” or call (800) 345-9472.

NIU Law is in the process of seeking CLE credit for Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

3-19-07