On August 22, Prof Brian Murchison lectured on the 2012-13 U.S. Supreme Court Term at a meeting of the Federal Bar Associaction’s chapter in Roanoke. Murchison discussed some of last Term’s leading cases, including the split decisions on California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act; the challenge to the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; the University of Texas affirmative action case; and the challenge to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
In addition, Murchison previewed the Recess Appointments Clause case that the Court will hear in the coming Term, and discussed another case the Court may review, involving a Free Exercise Clause attack on the Affordable Care Act. This was Murchison’s second visit to an event sponsored by the FBA, which includes members of the Roanoke bench and bar.
