Marquette University Law School, The Milwaukee Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society, and The Milwaukee Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society Present a Conference
Campaign Finance Regulation in Wisconsin:
The Law As It Was, Is, Should Be, and Will Be
Friday, February 27, 2015
8:15 a.m. – 12 noon
Marquette University Law School
Ray and Kay Eckstein Hall
The event is complimentary, with parking provided; however, registration is required.
3 CLE credits
Session One — Wisconsin’s Campaign Finance Laws in Light of Recent Court Decisions
A Joint Presentation by Richard M. Esenberg and Matthew W. O’Neill
Richard M. Esenberg is president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, a nonprofit law and policy center in Milwaukee advocating for constitutional rights, limited government, and individual liberty. Before founding WILL, Esenberg was general counsel of Rite Hite Holding Corporation and, from 1981 to 1997, an associate and then litigation partner at Foley & Lardner. He has served on the faculty of Marquette University Law School and is a frequent commentator on campaign finance law both nationally and in Wisconsin.
Matthew W. O’Neill is a shareholder at Fox, O’Neill & Shannon in Milwaukee, with practice areas that include campaign finance, election law, and commercial litigation. O’Neill has represented both the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and a former Republican Speaker of the Assembly. He has testified before the U.S. Congress, the Wisconsin Legislature, and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board on reforming election laws. O’Neill previously was a shareholder at Friebert Finerty & St. John in Milwaukee.
Session Two — How Should Campaign Finance be Regulated?
A Debate Between Alan B. Morrison and Bradley A. Smith
Alan B. Morrison is the Lerner Family Associate Dean for Public Interest and Public Service Law at George Washington University Law School, where he also teaches election law. He has previously taught at Harvard, New York University, and Stanford law schools. Working with Ralph Nader, Morrison cofounded the Public Citizen Litigation Group, which he directed for over 25 years. He has argued 20 cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, and his scholarship has been published in the Duke Law Journal, Georgetown Law Journal, and Stanford Law Review, among many other publications.
Bradley A. Smith holds the 2013-15 Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. Visiting Endowed Chair of Law at the West Virginia University College of Law. He is a widely published academic and serves as the Josiah H. Blackmore II/Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law at Capital University Law School. He is also the chairman and founder of the Center for Competitive Politics, a legal organization focused on First Amendment political rights. Previously, Smith was a commissioner on the Federal Elections Commission from 2000 to 2005; his term included service as the FEC’s vice chairman and thereafter as its chairman.
Session Three — View(s) from Madison
A Conversation Led by Mike Gousha, Distinguished Fellow in Law and Public Policy, Marquette Law School
Robin Vos is a Republican serving as Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly; he represents the 63rd district. Before being elected to the Legislature in 2004, he ran several small businesses in southeastern Wisconsin, and he continues to do so today. He was also elected to the Racine County Board and served by appointment on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Vos has stated that he will lead efforts to revise Wisconsin’s campaign finance laws in this legislative session.
Peter Barca is a Democrat serving as Minority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly; he represents the 64th district. He was first elected to the Assembly in 1985. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1993 and served two years, before being appointed by President Clinton to be the Midwest Regional Administrator to the U.S. Small Business Administration; he returned to the Assembly in 2008. Barca has stated his intention to be involved in any efforts to revise Wisconsin’s campaign finance law.
The foregoing agenda is subject to change.
Questions? Contact Christine Wilczynski-Vogel, Law School Associate Dean for External Relations, Events, and Facilities (christine.wv@marquette.edu or 414.288.3167), or Carol Dufek, Law School Events Coordinator (carol.dufek@marquette.edu or 414.288.6452).
