Former U.S. Attorney General to headline criminal justice reform panel

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey will headline a criminal justice reform panel discussion Oct. 10 at the University of Louisville.

The panel will discuss criminal justice reform at both the state and federal level. Other topics may include combatting crime and recidivism rates, the criminal justice system’s disproportionate impact on communities of color and women and the future of bipartisan cooperation.

“As legal educators, we at the University of Louisville School of Law know that the law has real-world impact. This is perhaps no more clearly felt than in the area of criminal justice. We are pleased to host this event with Justice Action Network that brings together bipartisan leaders to discuss this important issue,” said Colin Crawford, dean of the Brandeis School of Law.

The discussion, which is free and open to the public, runs 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the University Club, 200 E. Brandeis Ave. To RSVP, email tracie.cole@louisville.edu or rshackelford@skdknick.com.

Mukasey, now a partner at the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, served as U.S. Attorney General from 2007-2009 under President George W. Bush and previously served as a federal district court judge in New York from 1987-2006. Mukasey has testified before Congress in favor of federal sentencing and prison reform legislation.

Other panelists include Fox News Contributor Jason Chaffetz, a former U.S. Representative for Utah and previous sponsor of federal prison reform legislation; Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League; and Brett Tolman, a former U.S. Attorney who served the District of Utah from 2006 to 2009, who prosecuted such high-profile cases as the Elizabeth Smart kidnapping.

Kentucky representative and University of Louisville School of Law graduate Jason Nemes will moderate the panel discussion. Other speakers include Crawford, Daniel Cameron, an attorney at Frost Brown Todd LLC and former legal counsel to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Holly Harris, executive director of the Justice Action Network.

The event, hosted by the law school, is presented by the Justice Action Network, the largest bipartisan organization working to reform the justice system at the federal level and across the country. Two student groups, the American Constitution Society and the Federalist Society, are sponsoring the panel, along with several law firms in Louisville.

For additional information, contact Rachael Shackelford, rshackelford@skdknick.com.

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