The Supreme Court, Politics and Reform

The 2017 Pepperdine Law Review Symposium

Malibu, CaliforniaApril 8, 2017

Announcement and Call for Proposals

Next April, the Pepperdine Law Review will hold its annual symposium on the question of
whether the political deadlock over the Merrick Garland nomination provides a stark indication
the U.S. Supreme Court has become an unduly political institution, and, if so, what internal and
external reforms might address this problem. We invite all interested scholars to submit a
relevant proposal to present at the symposium and be considered for publication in a special
edition of our law review.
Confirmed lead commentators include:
Akhil Amar (Yale)
Erwin Chemerinsky (UC Irvine)
Michael McConnell (Stanford)
Hon. Richard Posner (by teleconference)
Mark Tushnet (Harvard)
Speaking slots are limited and proposals will be selected on the basis of, among other things,
how well they facilitate comprehensive coverage of the questions to be examined. Where
proposals identify problems, those that also explore specific reform measures will be accorded
additional weight. Selected speakers will present their ideas in breakout panel sessions, and are
requested to submit papers for potential publication. However, due to space and resource
constraints, not all papers will be selected. Except for meals provided at the symposium,
speakers are expected to cover their own expenses of attending and make their own travel and
lodging arrangements. Symposium staff will be available to make lodging recommendations and
assist with other logistics.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please do so by Friday, November 11, 2016.
Proposals and accompanying biographies should be no longer than one page each. They should
be submitted to Sophia Sipsas at sophia.sipsas@pepperdine.edu. For questions about the
conference, you may contact our events manager Suzanne Inman at
suzanne.inman@pepperdine.edu.
We hope that you will consider submitting a proposal to join us for this important dialogue.
Best regards,
Barry P. McDonald
Professor of Law and Faculty Symposium Advisor

Alice Anderson
Law Review Symposium Editor