The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission and the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law host this Colloquium at the Riffe Capitol Theatre in downtown Columbus.
The Colloquium features discussions on other states' experiences with constitutional commissions, Ohio's history of constitutional revision, the role of state constitutions, and procedural options for the Constitutional Modernization Commission.
The Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission is a bipartisan committee charged under R.C. 103.61 with examining the state constitution and making recommendations to the Ohio Legislature. The Colloquium Planning Committee was formed with assistance by the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law faculty to hold a Colloquium for the Commission members and interested members of the public.
Agenda:
Welcome: Alan C. Michaels, Dean and Cooperman Professor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
Background on the Planning Committee
Nancy H. Rogers, Professor and Moritz Chair in ADR, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law; former Ohio Attorney General
Introduction of Commission Co-Chairs
James A. Brogan, former Judge, Ohio Second District Court of Appeals
Charles Kurfess, former Speaker and Minority Leader, Ohio House of Representatives, former Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Wood County,
William G. Batchelder III, Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives and former Judge, Ohio Ninth District Court of Appeals, and
Vernon Sykes, Ohio Representative and member of Kent State University faculty,
Experience of Constitutional Commissions Across the States: What Are the Keys to Success or Failure?
Robert F. Williams, Distinguished Professor, Rutgers University-Camden School of Law and its Center for State Constitutional Studies
Lessons from the 1970s Ohio Revision Commission
Moderator:
Jo Ann Davidson, Chairman, Ohio Casino Control Commission; former Ohio Speaker, Ohio House of Representatives
Panelists:
John McDonald, Ice Miller, LLC
Alan Norris, Senior Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
(Both were members of the 1970s Ohio Constitutional Revision Commission and are former Ohio Representatives)
The History of the Ohio Constitution
Steven H. Steinglass, Dean Emeritus, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
The Role of State Constitutions: Competing Visions
Steven H. Steinglass
Robert F. Williams
Procedural Choices for the New Commission: External Procedures
Moderator:
Ben Rose, Lima attorney; former Chair of the Ohio Ethics Commission and former Ohio House Assistant Minority Leader
Panelists:
Betty D. Montgomery, Special Advisor to Governor Kasich, Montgomery Consulting Group, MacMurray, Peterson & Schuster; former Ohio Attorney General, Ohio Auditor, and Ohio Representative
Nancy H. Rogers
Zack Space, Vorys Advisors; former U.S. Representative and former Ohio Representative
Procedural Choices for the New Commission: Internal Procedures and Staffing
Moderator:
Bob Taft, University of Dayton; former Ohio Governor, former Ohio Secretary of State
Panelists:
Eric Fingerhut, Vice President, Battelle Memorial Institute; former U.S. Representative, former Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor, former Ohio Senator and Representative
Joan W. Lawrence, former Ohio Representative
Harry J. Lehman, former Ohio Representative, retired partner, Jones Day
Richard B. Saphire, Professor, University of Dayton School of Law
Steven H. Steinglass, Dean Emeritus, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University
Committee Responses to Ideas and Questions from the Audience
Moderators:
James A. Brogan
Charles Kurfess
Panelists:
Jo Ann Davidson
Nathaniel R. Jones, former Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
William K. Weisenberg, Assistant Executive Director, Ohio State Bar Association