Law and Democracy Series

October 4, 2024

The Genesis and Metamorphosis of the Militia Movement into a National Domestic Terrorism Threat

The Michigan militia movement began in the late 1970s and foreshadowed the growth of the movement nationwide. As an FBI agent in Michigan, Greg Stejskal had extensive involvement with Mark Koernke, “Mark from Michigan,” one of the founders of the movement. Later Stejskal was involved in the investigation of the Oklahoma City bombing, which had a substantial Michigan connection. Stejskal will discuss how elements of the militia movement have morphed into a domestic terror threat with the advent of groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. These groups were involved in the January 6^th Insurrection, and some of their leadership has been convicted of seditious conspiracy. 

Greg Stejskal is a graduate Nebraska Law and a member of the class of 1974. He is a retired special agent of the FBI (1975-2006). He has also authored a book, FBI Case Files Michigan – Tales of a G-Man, chronicling some of the cases in which he was involved during his career, some involving the Michigan militia.

This program has been approved for 1.0 continuing education credit in Nebraska. 

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October 8, 2024

PURPLE Movie Screening & Discussion

Did you know a study found that 1 in 6 Americans stopped speaking to a family member or close friend after the 2016 election? On October 8, we’re hosting a screening of a new film from Resetting the Table that captures the concerns and humanity beneath our national conflicts.

PURPLE tells the story of Americans with opposing viewpoints investigating their differences and discovering the concerns and experiences that lie behind each other’s positions. Filmed in rural Wisconsin and Iowa — in a swing region within two bordering swing states — PURPLE models a rare, mediated conversation that uplifts and inspires even while going toward the heat of passionate political differences.

The screening and post-screening discussion offer a structured opportunity to capture the thinking of the core characters on their own terms, as well as to explore the value of doing so for our democracy.

We hope you’ll join us and enjoy the screening and discussion. Lunch will be provided, so RSVP today!

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October 24, 2024

Dr. Nicholas Jacobs: The Rural Voter

Join the Rural Reconciliation Project for an online discussion with Dr. Nicholas Jacobs, co-author of The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America. 

Dr. Nicholas Jacobs is a political scientist and assistant professor of government at Colby College. His recent co-authored work, The Rural Voter, combines detailed empirical research with empathy built from real-world experience to explore the evolution of a powerful rural voting bloc in modern American politics. At a time of increasing political polarization, join the Dr. Jacobs and the Rural Reconciliation Project for an honest conversation about what divides—but could unite—rural and urban America.

Event Information and RSVP

February 19, 2025 | 12:00 P.M. | Auditorium

People v. The Court: The Next Revolution in Constitutional Law

Please join us for this Law & Democracy Series Lecture with David Sloss, Professor of Law, Santa Clara University.

David L. Sloss is writing a book called “People v. The Court: The Next Revolution in Constitutional Law” and he will host a talk on the upcoming book.

The book presents a normative theory of judicial review that builds on John Hart Ely’s theory. Current constitutional doctrine is at odds with core constitutional values. We divide Con Law into rights issues and structural issues. Structural Con Law focuses on the division of power among government actors. That framing omits a key structural feature of the Constitution: the division of power between We The People and our government. Constitutional rights doctrine focuses on negative, individual rights. Accordingly, constitutional doctrine ignores one crucial right: the affirmative, collective right of We the People to control our government. My theory divides constitutional issues into three baskets: rights, structure, and democratic self-government.

The theory relies on a distinction between strong, weak, and deferential judicial review. In a system of strong review, judicial decisions applying the Constitution are not subject to legislative override. In a system of weak review, judicial decisions are subject to legislative override. With deferential review, courts generally defer to legislative judgments.

This event is approved for 1.0 continuing education credit in Nebraska.

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