TORONTO, September 17, 2002 -- How far should political protest be allowed to go before it becomes an illegal act punishable by criminal law? That’s one of the questions a group of prominent scholars and lawyers from Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. will confront at a conference at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University. Some of the world’s most respected legal commentators on civil disobedience will be joined by one of its best known practitioners – John Clarke of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.

"This is a very timely and important conference," says Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Judy Fudge. "Social movements, First Nations and anti-globalization activists have adopted the tactics of civil disobedience and the law has had to respond. How do the courts protect the constitutional rights of protesters at the same time as they impose limits on them?"

The conference opens with the Laskin Lecture in Public Law. Professor Wesley Pue of the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law will deliver a presentation entitled, "The War on Terror: Constitutionalism, Dissent and Governance in a State of Permanent Warfare."

The Laskin Lecture is a free public event on Thursday, October 3 at 7 p.m. in Room 207 at Osgoode Hall Law School, which is located on the campus of York University at 4700 Keele Street. On-campus visitor parking is available on Sentinel Road, two streetlights west of Keele Street and Finch Avenue West.

The conference follows on Friday, October 4 in the Moot Court at Osgoode and Saturday, October 5 in Curtis Hall C in the Ross building at York. Conference registration is $50, and $25 for students. For complete conference information, please visit www.ohlj.ca.

Civil Disobedience, Civil Resistance and Civil Liberties: Law’s Role and Limits is presented by the Osgoode Hall Law Journal and the Centre for Public Law and Public Policy at Osgoode.

Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, one of the country’s most distinguished law schools, is committed to excellence in teaching and research and the pursuit of academic initiatives that further an understanding of the role of law in society. Osgoode offers rigorous academic programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional development levels, and has more than 15,000 alumni who are working in a variety of careers around the world.

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For further information, please contact:

Professor Judy Fudge
Osgoode Hall Law School of York University
416-736-5557
jfudge@yorku.ca
YU/079/02