Constitutional Experts to Explore Relevance of Virginia’s Constitution on Sept. 21

On September 21 at 5:30 p.m., A.E. Dick Howard will lead a discussion at the Library of Virginia tracing the evolution of Virginia’s constitution. Howard will be joined by Virginia Supreme Court Senior Justice Elizabeth B.”Liz” Lacy and H. Lane Kneedler.

From the Library of Virginia:

A. E. Dick Howard is the go-to person on all things related to Virginia’s Constitution, advising governors and legislators. He served as the executive director of the commission that drafted Virginia’s current constitution and directed the successful referendum campaign for its ratification. He is the White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. A Rhodes Scholar, he was a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black.

On September 21 at 5:30 PM, Howard will lead a spirited discussion that traces the evolution of Virginia’s constitution up to the most recent revision (1971) and explores its applicability to its citizens’ needs in the present day. Joining him will be Virginia Supreme Court Senior Justice Elizabeth B. “Liz” Lacy, the first woman on the Virginia Supreme Court, and H. Lane Kneedler, partner at Reed Smith LLP and former chief deputy attorney general of Virginia (1986–1992).

This program complements our exhibition You Have No Right: Law and Justice in Virginia. Using Virginia cases—and the stories of the people behind them—You Have No Right will demonstrate how the law affects individuals directly and how people have used the law to achieve political and social goals. Using original records and electronic resources to convey the themes of human rights, citizenship, and the rule of law in a lively and engaging presentation, the exhibition will explore questions about citizenship, marriage rights, eminent domain, and why prosecutors have to prove guilt and defense lawyers don’t have to prove innocence.

Style Weekly is the print media sponsor of exhibition programming for You Have No Right:  Law & Justice in Virginia.

You Have No Right: Law and Justice in Virginia will be on view Monday, September 24, 2012 through Saturday, May 18, 2013.

View Larger Map