of a symposium presented Friday, February 4, 2005
by the Center for Business Law & Regulation, Case School of Law
Co-sponsored by the Federalist Society Environmental Law & Property Rights Practice Group
A high-speed Internet connection, greater than 56K, will yield best results.
AGENDA
The symposium explored a topic timely and relevant to older urban areas
SESSION I – Public Use: Fifth Amendment Limits on the Use of Eminent Domain
This panel considers the extent to which the Fifth Amendment, which provides that "nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation" - limits the purposes for which the government's eminent domain power can be used. Specifically, the panel examines the extent to which the Fifth Amendment should be read to limit or preclude the use of eminent domain for blight remediation, economic development, or other economic purposes, or whether "public use" constitutes any and all uses deemed by the legislature or other political bodies to be in the public interest. While through much of the 20th century courts gave state and local governments rather wide discretion in determining what constitutes a "public use," in recent years some courts have begun to read "public use" more narrowly.
Speakers:View SESSION I in Windows Media
Eric R. Claeys, Assistant Professor of Law, St. Louis University School of Law
Thomas W. Merrill, Professor of Law, Columbia Law School
John Edward Mogk, Professor of Law, Wayne State University
Timothy Sandefur, Esq., Staff Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
Moderator:
Steven J. Eagle, Professor of Law, George Mason University
View SESSION I in Real PlayerSESSION II – The Value of Eminent Domain: An Effective Economic Development Strategy?
This panel addresses the policy questions raised by eminent domain, specifically the extent to which the eminent domain power is necessary, or even useful, for urban economic development. While there is little dispute that eminent domain is an important governmental tool for traditional public purposes, such as road construction and the like, there is much dispute over whether use of eminent domain to spur economic development is, in practice, an effective economic development strategy. Speakers address the pros and cons of using eminent domain as a policy tool and potential alternatives to eminent domain.
Speakers:View SESSION II in Windows Media
Thomas E. Bier, Professor & Director, Center for Housing Research & Policy, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
Jeffrey Finkle, President & CEO, International Economic Development Council
Sam Staley, Director, Urban Futures Program, Reason Public Policy Institute
Moderator:
Jonathan H. Adler, Associate Professor and Associate Director, Center for Business Law & Regulation, Case School of Law
View SESSION II in Real PlayerSESSION III – Debate
The Supreme Court has accepted certiorari in the case of Kelo et al v. City of New London to consider whether the Fifth Amendment authorizes the exercise of eminent domain to promote economic development, in this case to help a government increase its tax revenue and to create jobs. The debate features representatives of the two sides (or sympathetic amici) to give listeners a sense of the arguments that will be heard by the court.
Debaters:View SESSION III in Windows Media
Bert Gall, Staff Attorney, Institute for Justice
J. Peter Byrne, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
Moderator:
Hiram Chodosh, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Joseph C. Hostetler – Baker & Hostetler Professor of Law, Case School of Law
View SESSION III in Real Player