Public Policy Programs

Seattle University School of Law’s Continuing Legal Education Program is proud to sponsor public policy forums that draw national experts to discuss topics of current interest and importance. You may view videos of the following programs:

Public policy forum videos

What Is To Be Done With "Terrorists"?: How Do We Decide Who Are "Terrorists"…What Do We Do With Them While We're Deciding…How Much "Process" Are They Due?

February 29, 2008: Supreme Court decisions and rulings by military judges since 2004 have raised serious questions concerning the Bush Administration’s detention policies for persons alleged to be terrorists and the status of Guantánamo detainees. This CLE discussed the implications of the Court decisions and policy considerations, including the government’s concern to obtain information it needs and to protect national security…(What Is To Be Done With "Terrorists"? Videos*: Introduction, Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4, Session 5; What Is To Be Done With "Terrorists"? Materials - To request conference materials, include the number(s) of the materials you desire from the Materials PDF and send an e-mail request to rosenfeld@seattleu.edu.)

U.S. Attorneys: Roles and Responsibilities

May 9, 2007: The controversy surrounding the Administration’s dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys in December 2006 revealed many misconceptions and disagreements concerning both the President’s authority over these public officials and their obligations regarding Administration policy and objectives. This program examined these and other questions from the viewpoints of three of the former U.S. attorneys - John McKay of Washington, Paul K. Charlton of Arizona and David C. Iglesias of New Mexico. Also participating were Laurie L. Levenson, Professor of Law & William M. Rains Fellow and Director of the Center for Ethical Advocacy, Loyola Law School; James Eisenstein, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Pennsylvania State University; and Christian Halliburton, Professor of Law, Seattle University School of Law...(U.S. Attorneys Video*, U.S. Attorneys Materials - 4,080kB PDF)

Is the President Always Right?: An Examination of Presidential Authority

November 2, 2006: “The President is always right.” That assertion was made by Steven Bradbury, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, U.S. Department of Justice, in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on July 14, 2006. This public forum examined the Administration’s assertion of presidential authority in the “war on terror,” as well as the President’s use of signing statements. A panel of distinguished jurists, attorneys and scholars discussed the interrogation and treatment of enemy combatant, the Geneva Conventions, habeas corpus for terrorist suspects, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, NSA surveillance programs and the use of presidential signing statements. The program featured Distinguished Alumnus Lt. Cmdr. Charles D. Swift, whose defense of his client led to the historic ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld...(Presidential Powers Video*, Presidential Powers Materials)