The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Legal experts to debate state of SCOTUS in wake of abortion ruling
— Preeminent legal and U.S. Supreme Court authorities Theodore B. Olson and Laurence Tribe will debate the impacts of the controversial Roe v. Wade reversal, the politicization of the nation’s highest court, and its exacerbation of the country’s deepest divisions during a live taping of Common Ground with Jane Whitney, at 3 p.m. July 17 at Wamogo Regional High School.
SCOTUS: Triumph or Tragedy?, Common Ground’s third forum of the season, will assess the result of the court’s restructuring in recent years and how its decisions have impacted almost all aspects of American life — from immigration to health care, political representation, reproductive and religious rights and more, according to a statement.
A fixture of the bar and an expert on its proceedings, conservative legal superstar Theodore B. Olson has argued a staggering 65 cases in front of the Supreme Court. Specifically, he has argued some of the most seismic cases in recent history, such as the 2000 Bush v. Gore that led to President George W. Bush’s inauguration and the Citizens United case that transformed campaign finance. Despite his lifelong conservative commitment, Olson has described his most important case as that which overturned California’s ban against same-sex marriage.
Laurence Tribe is perhaps the preeminent Supreme Court authority who doesn’t sit on the court. He has argued 35 cases in front of the justices, and as a Professor of Constitutional Law Emeritus at Harvard, he has guided the philosophies of President Barack Obama, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justice Elena Kagan. Tribe played monumental roles in several landmark cases for LGBTQ+rights, from protecting teachers who discuss LGBTQ matters to defending LGBTQ Americans protected class status. He authored the 1990 book, Abortion: The Clash of Absolutes.
Common Ground with Jane Whitney features deep-dive conversations with the nation’s leaders and experts in America’s most important issues. The series explores national public affairs with a mission to inform and inspire communities through shared dialogue, thought-provoking suggestions, and solutions that capture America’s attention. The interactive, town-hall style programs allow panelists and audience members alike to share their experiences and perspectives, spurring ongoing conversations that bond people together.
Learn more about Common Ground with Jane Whitney, including host and moderator Jane Whitney, the organization, and upcoming events, by visiting cgjw.org or following Common Ground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Previous episodes of Common Ground are available for on demand viewing at cgjw.org/watch.