9:20 AM – 3:00 PM
Widener Law Commonwealth, Administration Building, Wolfberg Courtroom
3737 Vartan Way Harrisburg, PA 17110 and via Zoom
Annual Widener Law Commonwealth Law Review Spring Symposium “From 1776 to Today: The Evolution of Dissent in American Law,”
The Widener Commonwealth Law Review is pleased to host its Annual Spring Symposium, “From 1776 to Today: The Evolution of Dissent in American Law,” on Friday, March 20, 2026.
This year’s symposium brings together scholars and jurists to examine how dissent has shaped American law from the nation’s founding to the present day, with focused discussions on dissent in the digital age, within the courts, and across evolving legal frameworks. The program will feature a keynote address by Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California Berkeley School of Law.
Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 9:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Wolfberg Courtroom, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
(Zoom option available)
Agenda
9:20 a.m. – Arrival
9:30 a.m. – Introductory Remarks
andré douglas pond cummings, Dean & Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Kiera Flannery, Editor-in-Chief, Widener Commonwealth Law Review
Panel 1: Dissent in the Digital Age
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
Moderator: Jill Family, Associate Dean for Faculty Research and Development & Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Noah Chauvin, Associate Professor of Law, Oklahoma State University College of Law
Amy Gaudion, Associate Professor of Law, Penn State Dickinson Law
10:45 – 11:00 a.m. – Break
Panel 2: Dissent in the Courts
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Moderator: Greg Randall Lee, Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Wendy B. Scott, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, Widener University Delaware Law School
Chad Oldfather, Professor of Law, Marquette University Law School
Karoline Mehalchick, U.S. District Court Judge & Jurist in Residence, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. – Lunch Break
1:45 - 1:45 p.m.- Keynote Address
Keynote Speaker: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean of the University of California Berkeley School of Law & Distinguished Professor of Law
Panel 3: The Evolution of Dissent
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Moderator: Robert Power, Emeritus Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Michael Dimino, Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School
Lauren Gailey, Assistant Professor of Law, Duquesne University Kline School of Law
Alan Garfield, Distinguished Professor of Law, Widener University Delaware Law School
Students are not required to attend the full day. Attendees are asked not to leave in the middle of a session.
Cost:
$25 Regular (CLE credits)
$20 Alumni, Government Lawyers, and Academics (CLE credits)
Free for Non-CLE Attendees, General Public
Email questions to [email protected].
Attorneys may email [email protected] to request a scholarship for hardship reasons.
