UofL to mark 100th anniversary of Brandeis’ nomination to U.S. Supreme Court

The University of Louisville’s Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is marking the 100th anniversary of its namesake’s appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court with special events. Brandeis, who was born in Louisville in 1856, served on the court from 1916 to 1939.

The centennial celebration kicks off Jan. 28 with a free, public talk by law school professor Laura Rothstein—a self-professed fan of Brandeis who keeps his legacy alive through an annual presentation about his life and influence. This year’s presentation will be at noon in Room 275 of the law school and falls on the same day as Brandeis’ nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court (Jan. 28, 1916).

“After the longest Supreme Court nomination approval process in history, the influence of Louis Brandeis has withstood the test of time and has had a profound impact on our nation,” Rothstein said. “He was an advocate for improved government transparency and a protector of privacy and human rights and is known for his commitment to public service.”

Other events planned for the legal and university community are:

• Feb. 9, “Affirmative Action Panel: Diversity in Schools, From Parents Involved to Fisher,” an examination of the role of economics and social policy in desegregation and affirmative action. The discussion will showcase the “Brandeis Brief,” an approach pioneered by Brandeis in 1908 that considers social science and economic issues in addition to legal citations. The panel will include attorney Frank Mellen Jr. and College of Education and Human Development professor Mikkaka Overstreet. The event begins at noon at the law school.
• May 11, a Kentucky Bar Association-UofL event moderated by journalist Howard Fineman and featuring Melvin Urofsky, author of numerous works on Brandeis and a past recipient of the Brandeis Medal. The panel discussion will begin at 3:35 p.m. at the Galt House during the KBA annual convention.
• June 9, Lance Liebman, former Columbia Law School dean and former American Law Institute executive director, will be the featured speaker during the 33rd Annual Carl A. Warns, Jr. and Edwin Render Institute on Labor and Employment Law. Liebman’s Carl A. Warns, Jr. Keynote Address, on the influence of Brandeis on labor and employment law, is 11 a.m. to noon at the Seelbach Hotel downtown.