Theodore B. Olson, former United States Solicitor General and partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, will deliver the School of Law’s 2005 Tyrrell Williams Lecture. “A Conversation With Theodore B. Olson” will begin at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 in the Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom in Anheuser-Busch Hall.
Olson is expected to discuss his experience as one of the nation’s premier advocates before the Supreme Court of the United States. He has argued 41 cases before the Court including Bush v. Gore and Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board. Olson will also answer questions from the audience throughout his lecture.
The lecture is part of the law school’s Public Interest Law Speakers Series on “Access to Justice: The Social Responsibility of Lawyers.” William H. Webster, law school alumnus and former director of the FBI and CIA, will introduce the lecture.
Olson concentrates his practice on constitutional law, appellate litigation, federal legislation, and media and commercial disputes. He has written and lectured extensively on appellate advocacy, oral communication in the courtroom, civil justice reform, punitive damages, and constitutional and administrative law.
Olson has handled cases at all levels of the state and federal court systems throughout the U.S. At the highest levels, his cases have dealt with separation-of-powers issues relating to legislatures and courts, federalism issues, various Constitutional Amendment issues, the constitutionality of punitive damages, the constitutionality of single-sex colleges, the interpretation and application of Federal Sentencing Guidelines, commerce clause issues, and affirmative action issues.
From 1981 to 1984 Olson was the assistant attorney general for the U.S. Office of Legal Counsel. He then served as the personal lawyer for former President Ronald Reagan.
Olson is a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley.
The lecture, which is free and open to the public, offers one hour of MCLE credit. For more information, call 935-6430.