Conference to look at the overlap of law and politics in the state of Georgia

Wednesday, October 9, 2013 Writer: Cindy H. Rice, 706-542-5172, cindyh@uga.edu Contact: W. Matthew Wilson, 706-513-3964, mwdawg@uga.edu Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia School of Law will present the Third Annual Georgia Association of Law and Politics Symposium Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Larry Walker Room of Dean Rusk Hall. Seating is limited. Preregistration is required. Through three panel sessions, this year’s conference will focus on challenges faced by women in politics, Georgia’s new juvenile justice code and the federal judicial nomination process. Additionally, former governor and 1972 Georgia Law alumnus Roy E. Barnes will deliver the noon keynote address, where he will talk generally about his experience both as a lawyer and a politician, how he believes society benefits from the overlap and the role he sees lawyers playing on future issues facing Georgia. “Lawyers, judges and politicians play a key role in shaping our state and nation,” said W. Matthew Wilson, third-year law student and Georgia Association of Law and Politics president. “It is important that we come together to learn from one another and to explore how we can collectively tackle some of the problems facing our society. We hope this annual conference will help accomplish that.” Other conference participants will include: former U.S. Rep. George W. “Buddy” Darden, state Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones, U.S. District Court Judge Clay D. Land, Superior Court Judge Todd Markle, state Rep. Alisha Thomas Morgan, Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery D. Niles and state Sen. Horacena Tate, among other practitioners and academics. The conference is free for UGA students, faculty and staff. There is a $15 charge for all other participants attending the keynote lunch. State Bar of Georgia members may obtain 4.5 regular Continuing Legal Education credits for a fee of $50. To register, or for more information, see www.law.uga.edu/galp. ##