Substantively, the program was a success. At Chicago, Professor David Harris (Toledo) gave a thoughtful and provocative keynote address on the possibility for progressive change in the criminal justice system focusing on community policing, racial profiling, capital punishment and the drug wars as areas of positive attitudinal shifts. His address was followed by a reception for the attendees and a dinner in the clinical atrium for members of the planning committee, interested faculty and program participants. These events were sparsely attended with no more than 35 at the speech and 15 at the dinner.

The next day’s events started at the Chicago Bar Association with a plenary panel discussion of "legal service providers" outlining their concerns and interests in law school faculties becoming more involved in their work. The discussion was lively and informed with Dean Leroy Pernell (Northern Illinois) responding to the provider concerns from the perspective of a faculty member and Dean. We then adjourned to DePaul and due to the unexpectedly low turnout of around 40, rather than divide into the planned 6 or 7 small groups, we separated into civil (housing discrimination and land tenure) and criminal (juvenile justice, wrongful convictions, racial profiling, post-convictions) sections to discuss models of law school and legal provider collaboration. Diane Downs, Chicago's Assistant Dean and Director of Placement, also coordinated an "equal justice jobs" workgroup session for sharing ideas with career services staff from DePaul, and the Public Interest coordinator from Northwestern University.

Our luncheon speaker, Gerry Lopez (NYU) gave a predictably spirited presentation focused on the need for and methods to effectuate collaboration between practitioners and law teachers in the social justice arena. After lunch, the attendees met together to brainstorm about involving academic faculty in the justice mission and increasing collaboration. Tracey Meares did a fine job of coordinating this process with the goal of creating an action plan which we expect to send for posting on the colloquia website.

In sum, we were favorably impressed with the substance of the colloquium but disappointed by the low turnout. Only a tiny number of non-presenting faculty showed up and the response from the equal justice community was much less than promised. Nonetheless, the core planning committee (Professor Sumi Cho, Professor Tracey Meares and Diane Downs) did a great job of putting together the panels, coordinating the process and trying to generate attendance. Direct mail went out to about 1000 individuals and organizations.

If you have questions about the program, contact one of the local planners listed below:

Sumi K. Cho
DePaul University College of Law
25 East Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 362-8082
scho@condor.depaul.edu

Tracey Louise Meares
University of Chicago Law School
1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9582
t-meares@uchicago.edu