Annual First Amendment Conference 

Photos by Hank McIntire 
Video of Presentations

The Center for Constitutional Studies held its annual First Amendment Conference Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, in Clarke Building (CB) 511.

The conference was entitled “Tied in a Single Garment of Destiny": The Founders, Natural Rights, and Religious Liberty Today.

Presenters/panelists included Dr. Phillip Muñoz, Notre Dame; Dr. Tony Peacock, Utah State University; Dr. Ralph Hancock, Brigham Young University; Dr. Leslie Griffin, UNLV Law School; and Daniel Benson, Becket Law

Dr. Jacqueline Rivers, of the Seymour Institute, keynoted the conference and spoke on the theme of “Justice and Race: Enacting Religious Freedom."

Schedule

10:00 a.m. – Session 1: The Founding and Religion: Phillip Muñoz, Author of Religious Liberty and the American Founding, Meets Critics Panel

     Moderator: Matthew Brogdon (Miller Family Foundation Senior Director, UVU Center for Constitutional Studies)

     Panelist 1 (author): Phillip Muñoz (Notre Dame)

     Panelist 2 (critic): Tony Peacock (Utah State University)

     Panelist 3 (critic): Ralph Hancock (Brigham Young University)

     Phillip Muñoz Responds to critics

     Q & A from students/audience

11:30 a.m. – Lunch Break

1:00 p.m. – Session 2: Discussion of Religious Liberty at the Supreme Court: Kennedy v. Bremerton School District

     Moderator: Rick Griffin (Wood Distinguished Professor of Law and Constitutional Studies Utah Valley University)

     Discussant 1: Daniel Benson (Counsel - Becket Law)

     Discussant 2: Leslie C. Griffin (UNLV - Law)

     Q & A

2:30 p.m. – Session 3: Keynote, Justice and Race: Enacting Religious Freedom

     Dr. Jacqueline Rivers (Executive Director, Seymour Institute)