Civic Empowerment Series
The Constitution Today: Rights, Power & the Supreme Court
Tuesday, June 30
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Join us for a virtual panel discussion about the First Amendment, the power structure of the federal branches, and an update on cases before the Supreme Court.
Political Analyst Paul Lisnek moderates a non-partisan panel discussion with Chicagoland professors Steven D. Schwinn and Robert E. Shapiro on topics of the First Amendment, the power structure of the federal branches, and an update on the cases before the Supreme Court.
Join us on Zoom.
About the Moderator:
Dr. Paul Lisnek served as the political and legal analyst for WGN-TV for 18 years. Paul has been a lawyer for 40 years, is a former Assistant Dean and Professor at Loyola Law School, and taught at DePaul, University of Illinois in Urbana, and Pepperdine. He teaches constitutional law and ethics for the bar exam. He was a disciplinary commissioner for lawyers for 25 years, and he served as a legal and jury expert for NBC News and CNN.
About the Panelists:
Steven D. Schwinn: Professor Schwinn teaches constitutional law, First Amendment, comparative constitutional law and human rights, and lawyering skills I: civil rights at UIC Law. He previously served as co-director of the International Human Rights Clinic, director of the clinical program, and the Edward T. and Noble W. Lee Chair in Constitutional Law for the 2015-2016 school year and in the spring semester 2023. Professor Schwinn earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and his J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law. He practiced in the Office of the General Counsel at the Peace Corps.
Robert E. Shapiro: Robert is a trial lawyer and litigator at Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP with more than 40 years of experience. He handles commercial disputes in trial and appellate courts, ADR forums, and administrative and governmental proceedings nationwide and abroad. He is an adjunct professor of philosophy at Saint Xavier University in Chicago and St. Bonaventure University in New York and has taught courses on philosophy, the American constitution, and the American legal system at universities in Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey, China, India, and Vietnam. Robert has appeared on local television as a commentator on a range of international, political, and legal topics.
The Civic Empowerment Series 2026 is presented in partnership with Skokie Public Library, Vernon Area Public Library, Blue Island Public Library, Highland Park Public Library, Aurora Public Library District, Lincolnwood Public Library, La Grange Public Library, Fox River Valley Public Library, Algonquin Area Public Library District, Barrington Area Library, Roselle Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Morton Grove Public Library, Palatine Public Library and Oak Park Public Library.
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