October 12, 2007
By Julia Parmley

U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BREYER JOINS GW LAW SCHOOL FOR "ACCESS TO THE MEDIA--1967 TO 2007 AND BEYOND"

Although it has been 40 years since GW Law Professor Jerome A. Barron's groundbreaking article on the dominance of corporate media ownership and the need for a more "free flow" of ideas, his concerns about media access still resonate today. In a two-day symposium titled "Access to the Media--1967 to 2007 and Beyond" at GW's Law School Oct.11-12, scholars from across the country, including Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the U.S. Supreme Court, gathered to debate, discuss, and celebrate Barron's 1967 article "Access to the Press--A New First Amendment Right."

During the symposium, GW Law School faculty moderated visiting scholars as they debated themes such as intellectual property and the First Amendment in four panels.

In the Jacob Burns Moot Courtroom on Oct. 11, Fredrick M. Lawrence, Law School dean and Robert Research Professor of Law, began the symposium by calling Barron's article "path-breaking."
 
Robert Brauneis, associate professor of law, introduced Breyer to the audience, commenting that Breyer's interpretation of law makes him a particularly appropriate keynote speaker. "[Breyer] looks for the deepest themes that underlie the constitution and how those themes can guide us, not only in constitutional interpretation but in statutory interpretation and administrative law," said Brauneis.

In his remarks, Breyer outlined reasons why he admired Barron's article, including its ability to encourage readers to consider what a democracy is and how it should function.

"The article suggests we better think about democracy and the notion of discussion," said Breyer. "That's where the work goes on, that's where discussion goes on. That kind of chaotic process is not so far from what could be described as the democratic process in action."

"I'm glad you are reading this article again," said Breyer. "I could not be more pleased to be here and continue what I think will be a valuable conference."

The two-day symposium was hosted by GW's Law Review.