The interplay between immigration and criminal law—and related issues raised in the wake of Sept. 11—will be the focus of the 2002 Thrower Symposium, to be held Thursday, Feb. 21, in the School of Law’s Tull Auditorium.

Doris Meissner, senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Global Policy Program, will deliver the keynote address on “Protecting Borders and Liberty in the Post-9/11 Era.” Meissner served as commissioner for the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from 1993 to 2000. Experts and leaders on immigration issues will explore “Immigration Law: Assessing New Immigration Enforcement Strategies and the Criminalization of Migration” during a series of presentations from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Among the presenters is Owen Cooper, general counsel for the INS. Appointed to the position in 1999, Cooper directs the legal program of more than 600 INS attorneys in 56 offices around the country and advises the U.S. attorney general on all aspects of immigration law.

Other speakers include a variety of presenters from all sides of the immigration issue. Nora Demleitner, visiting professor of law at Hofstra University School of Law, will speak on “Welcoming Criminals? Cooperation with Law Enforcement in Exchange for Access to the United States.” Margaret Taylor and Ronald Wright, professors of law at Wake Forest University School of Law, will present a joint discussion on “The Sentencing Judge as Immigration Judge.”

Robert Pauw, a partner in the Seattle law firm of Gibbs, Houston & Pauw and an instructor at the Seattle University School of Law, will speak on “Plenary Power: A Doctrine Inconsistent with Contemporary Norms.” David Cole, professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, will discuss “Preventive Detention and Immigration.”

Marc Miller, professor of law at Emory, will serve as moderator and present closing remarks.

The Thrower Symposium is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged by calling 404-727-6831, but also is available at the door. Continuing legal education credits are offered.