Category: Archived

Constitution Day CLE: Constitutional Rights: Balancing History, Liberty, and the Common Good (Boise)

Sponsored by the Idaho Law Foundation and Attorneys for Civic Education

Friday, September 15, 2023

12:00 – 1:30 pm (MT)

Idaho State Capitol Lincoln Auditorium – Garden Level

*Live Webcast Available

1.5 CLE credits of which 0.5 is Ethics (pending)

*This conversation is open to attorneys, teachers, students, the media, and members of the public for attendance in person or via live webcast. Check back on this webpage for webcast link on the day of the event.

Attorneys are asked for a small donation to Attorneys for Civic Education or to volunteer time in order to receive CLE credit.

Recent Supreme Court rulings suggest Constitutional rights are not absolute but determined by looking at historical precedents, public welfare, and individual rights. This legal standard is known as the “Ordered Liberty Test.”

Join the Idaho Law Foundation and Attorneys for Civic Education in person or virtually in celebration of Constitution Day as they welcome distinguished attorneys for an in-depth discussion of the origins of Ordered Liberty, how it has been applied, and potential responses to its use in answering important legal questions.

Moderator:

Kolby K. Reddish, Smith + Malek

Keynote:

Hon. Jessica M. Lorello, Chief Judge, Idaho Court of Appeals

Panelists:

Benjamin Plener Cover, University of Idaho College of Law

Emily A. MacMaster, MacMaster Law

David G. Robins, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Idaho

This event is open to Idaho attorneys, teachers, students, and members of the public.

Constitution Day is a federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document. A law establishing the present holiday was created in 2004 and mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions provide educational programming about the Constitution on that day.

Attorneys for Civic Education was founded in 2013 by a group of Idaho attorneys who recognized the critical importance of civic education in Idaho’s schools. Uniting ACE members is a common vision: to increase and sustain opportunities for civic education in Idaho’s schools and ensure the Idaho youth have a solid understanding of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Through outreach, fundraising, and other activities, ACE is committed to supporting quality civic education for Idaho’s young people. More information about ACE can be found at attorneysforciviceducation.org.

The Idaho Law Foundation is the charitable arm of the Idaho State Bar. As a program of the Foundation, Law Related Education is a statewide civic education program that works to enhance public understanding of the legal system and bring together attorneys and teachers to help students of all ages understand the role of law in a democratic society. For more information, visit idaholawfoundation.org.

Join us June 10th at 10 am at Fort Boise Park

Register by May 18th to get an event t-shirt!

Registration Fees:

$25 Adults ( 18 and Up)

$15 Youth (13-17)

$10 Kids (12 & Under)

Interested in being a sponsor of the event? Email Maureen Braley for more information.

We are looking for volunteers to help on the day of the event. Please contact Calle Belodoff if interested!

Join us in person or virtually on September 16 from 12:00 to 1:30 (MT) for an in-depth discussion on our Constitution and the limits on speech. Teachers, students, and other community members sign up here.

The January 2022 Idaho Law Foundation Newsletter is out now! Read the full E-Newsletter linked below:

The Idaho Law Foundation provides a safety-net for low-income Idahoans who require civil legal services and cannot afford to pay for them. We help students understand the law and our legal system while building positive relationships with members of our legal community.

You are the Foundation. So, thank you for considering a tax-deductible donation to help us continue our important work. You can donate online by selecting the “Donate” button above or download our Donor Form and return it with a check to the Idaho Law Foundation.

We thank you for your support. If you need any further assistance, please contact our Development Director, Carey Shoufler.

For Immediate Release

Idaho Students Awarded in Statewide Civics Contest

November 17, 2021 – Attorneys for Civic Education (ACE) is proud to announce that three Idaho students and their schools were selected for prizes in ACE’s first Civics Contest. Student essays explored Constitutional rights and correlating responsibilities.

The three winning entries were:

• Audra Bunn, Wendell Middle School, Wendell. Audra is in eighth grade. Her essay focused on women’s voting rights, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.

• Adison Buzzell, Idaho Home Learning Academy, Oneida School District. Adison is in eighth grade. Adison’s essay explored freedom of expression, the right to bear arms, and the right to vote.

• Dylan Hughes, North Junior High School, Boise. Dylan is a seventh grader. Dylan’s essay explored several constitutional amendments related to the right to vote.

The ACE Civics Contest is open to Idaho middle school students. In its inaugural year, the contest was financially sponsored by the Government and Public Sector Lawyers Section of the Idaho State Bar, whose financial contribution allowed ACE to award prizes the top three entries along with an honorarium to the school of the first-place student. The Idaho Supreme Court and the University of Idaho College of Law also provided extensive support.

Entries were critiqued by a panel of judges that included: Idaho Supreme Court Justice Gregory Moeller; Donald Burnett, retired Acting President of the University of Idaho, former Dean of the College of Law, and former Idaho Court of Appeals Judge; Pandi Elison-Chang, Ph.D., Social Studies Teacher at Preston High School, Secondary Social Studies/Adjunct Professor Idaho State University; and Melissa Davlin, Producer/Host at Idaho Public Television.

Justice Moeller said of the entries, “It was a delight to read so many inspiring essays and, frankly, reassuring to see that the rising generation has such a deep love for and understanding of the U.S. Constitution.”

Don Burnett noted regarding the essay topics, “The students identified an impressive array of constitutional provisions, including all of the first five amendments as well as the 8^th, 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, 19^th, and 26^th Amendments. Students also showed thoughtful insight into how individual rights come with personal responsibilities.”

ACE would like to thank our judges and sponsors for their support of the Civics Contest. We appreciate their dedication to advancing civic education in our state.

The winning entries are linked below:

• The United States Constitution Protects Numerous Individual Rights by Audra Bunn
• America’s Instruction Manual by Adison Buzzell
• Voting Rights by Dylan Hughes

For more information about the ACE Civics Contest, contact Carey Shoufler, Idaho Law Foundation Law Related Education Director, at cshoufler@isb.idaho.gov.

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Attorneys for Civics Education was founded in 2013 by a group of Idaho attorneys who recognized the critical importance of civic education in Idaho’s schools. Uniting ACE members is a common vision: to increase and sustain opportunities for civic education in Idaho’s schools and ensure the Idaho youth have a solid understanding of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Through outreach, fundraising, and other civic education activities, ACE is committed to supporting a quality civic education for Idaho’s young people. More information about ACE can be found at:  attorneysforciviceducation.org.