Release date: Oct. 5, 2006

Emory Experts Address Issues Coming Before U.S. Supreme Court

In coming weeks the U.S. Supreme Court will hear major cases on partial birth abortion, the Clean Air Act, racial quotas in schools and punitive damages. Emory Law School experts are available to comment on these closely watched cases that will define the second term of the Roberts court.

Robert Schapiro can discuss the ramifications of Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood, two cases challenging the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003. Schapiro, whose specialties include constitutional law, federal courts and civil procedure, is the author of “Toward a Theory of Interactive Federalism,” Iowa Law Review (forthcoming 2006).

Schapiro also is available to discuss ramifications of two forthcoming cases involving racial quotas at school districts in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, Wash. (Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District). 404-727-1103, rschapir@law.emory.edu

Environmental law expert William Buzbee can address questions on two cases involving interpretation of the Clean Air Act—Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency and Environmental Defense v. Duke Energy Corporation. Buzbee co-authored an unprecedented friend of court brief for a bipartisan group of four former Environmental Protection Agency administrators in the Supreme Court's last major environmental law and federal case, the Rapanos case. He was also called to testify before the U.S. Senate this past summer to explore the implications of that case. 404-727-6507, wbuzbee@law.emory.edu

Frank Vandall, whose specialties include torts and product liability, can comment on the question of punitive damage limits to be addressed by the court in Philip Morris USA v. Williams. Vandall, author of comprehensive texts on torts and products liability, has written on the application of absolute liability to cigarette manufacturers. 404-727-6510, fvandall@law.emory.edu

Emory University is known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities. For nearly two decades Emory has been named one of the country's top 25 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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