John Paul Stevens Lecture (2024)

2022 annual John Paul Stevens Lecture featuring Angela R. Riley, Chief Justice, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Supreme Court

Angela R. Riley, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma, and Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles presented the 11th annual John Paul Stevens Lecture. An internationally esteemed jurist and scholar, Justice Riley became the youngest person and first woman to be elected as justice of the Supreme Court of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma in 2003 and in 2010 was elected as Chief Justice.

In conversation with Suzette Malveaux, Director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law, she explained the role of tribal courts in ensuring justice in Indian country. Justice Riley's remarks and fireside chat with Professor and Director of the White Center Professor Suzette Malveaux was followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students and the broader community. Read more about Justice Riley and the lecture here.

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2021 Stevens Lecture featuring Judge Bernice Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the 2021 John Paul Stevens Lecture took place on October 19 virtually and in-person at the University of Colorado Law School. The Honorable Bernice B. Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit spoke on defining the “Rule of Law.” Opening remarks were given by Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss, Professor Suzette Malveaux, director of the Byron R. White Center and Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law; and Kathryn A. Starnella, president-elect of the Colorado Women's Bar Association, a co-sponsor of the event. Read more about the lecture here.

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2020 Stevens Lecture with former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa Zak Yacoob

Zak Yacoob, a former justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered theninth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture virtually at 12:00 p.m. MT on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. Justice Yacoob is the first international justice to present the Stevens Lecture. Yacoob is well-known nationally and internationally for his contributions to the socioeconomic rights and jurisprudence of South Africa. Justice Yacoob shared his thoughts on the role of the courts, social justice, and racial equality. His remarks and virtual fireside chat with Professor and Director of the White Center Professor Suzette Malveaux were followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students.

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2019 Stevens Lecture with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan visited the University of Colorado Boulder campus Oct. 22-23, 2019, giving the University of Colorado Law School’s John Paul Stevens Lecture at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Macky Auditorium and meeting with students during select events.

Justice Kagan answered questions in a fireside chat format moderated by Provost Professor of Law and Director of the White Center Suzette Malveaux, followed by a question and answer session with questions from Colorado Law students.

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2018 Stevens Lecture with Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Judge Carlos F. Lucero

On Sept. 27, 2018, the Hon. Carlos F. Lucero, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, delivered the seventh annual John Paul Stevens Lecture.Lucero’s talk, "A Constitutional Call to Arms and Reflections on a Judicial Career,” focused on contemporary challenges to the Constitution and the role of lawyers in supporting and defending the Constitution.

The lecture included a Q&A discussion withSuzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Civil Rights Law and director of the White Center. Lucero also responded to questions from student leadersLeah Fugere(’20), president of the Christian Legal Society;Nicholas Monck(’19), president of the Student Bar Association; andHannah Regan-Smith(‘19), editor-in-chief of theUniversity of Colorado Law Review.

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Read the published transcript of Judge Lucero's remarks

2017 Stevens Lecture with Former Chief Judge of New York Judge Jonathan Lippman

The 2017 John Paul Stevens Lecture took place September26 at the Carr Judicial Center in Denver. Former Chief Judge of the State of New York Jonathan Lippman spoke on “Changing the Dialogue on Access to Justice.”

2016 Stevens Lecture with Justice Sonia Sotomayor

On September 2, 2016, Justice Sonia Sotomayor visited Boulder and participated in a Q&A conversation with more than 1,500 participants for the fifth annual Stevens Lecture. The audience included students, faculty and community members from the metro area. Additionally, high school students traveled to Boulder from all over Colorado to meet with Justice Sotomayor and attend the event.

2014 Stevens Lecture with Justice Antonin Scalia

The fourth annual Stevens Lecture was given by Senior Associate Justice Antonin Scalia on October 1, 2014, and discussed constitutional interpretation. More than 1,500 people attended the live lecture at Macky Auditorium, and nearly 400 people watched the live stream of the lecture at University of Wyoming Law School, William & Mary Law School, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, Western State Colorado University, Ridgway High School, and inside the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Law School.

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2013 Stevens Lecture with Former Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor

Former AssociateJustice Sandra Day O’Connordelivered the third annual Stevens Lecture on September 17, 2013. Nearly 1,000 people watched live, with additional satellite audiences in the Wolf Law building and colleges throughout Colorado.

Boulder Daily Camera Coverage of the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

CU Independent Coverage of the 3rd Annual Stevens Lecture

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2012 Stevens Lecture with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The second annual Stevens Lecture was given by AssociateJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on September 19, 2012. Nearly 1,000 people watched the lecture live, while satellite audiences enjoyed the lecture from Wolf Law, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Mesa University.

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