Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell will discuss the state's campaign finance laws in the wake of Vermont Right to Life v. Sorrell, as well as the Grocery Manufacturers Association's lawsuit to block Vermont's genetically engineered (GE) food labeling law, among other topics, from 12:45 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at Vermont Law School. The event, free and open to the public and press, will be held in Yates Common Room at VLS and include time for Q-and-A.
In January 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari—aka cert, a review of a lower court's ruling—in Vermont Right to Life v. Sorrell. The denial of cert upheld the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals' July 2014 decision in favor of the state of Vermont, rejecting all elements of the Vermont Right to Life Committee's (VRLC) attack on the state's campaign finance laws. The U.S. Supreme Court action brought the VRLC's case to a close.
"We are excited that Attorney General Sorrell will be joining the Vermont Law School community to discuss the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court's denial of cert in Vermont Right to Life v. Sorrell," said Professor Christine Cimini, associate dean of research and faculty development and director of JD externship programs at VLS. "The 2nd Circuit's decision affirming constitutionality of Vermont's campaign finance laws upholds Vermont's regulatory scheme to address money used in public elections."
Sorrell is expected to explain what the Vermont campaign finance laws prohibit, what the Vermont Right to Life Committee attempted to accomplish, and what the broader implications of the lower court decision might be.
In addition, the attorney general plans to talk about the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last June by the Grocery Manufacturers Association to block Vermont's law requiring the labeling of all genetically engineered (GE) food sold in the state. More information about the case may be found at ago.vermont.gov/hot-topics/ge-food-litigation.
For more information about Attorney General Sorrell's visit to Vermont Law School, email ccimini@vermontlaw.edu or call 802-831-1281. For more information about Vermont Law School events open to the public, visit www.vermontlaw.edu/news-and-events.
State of Vermont photo