University of South Dakota Law Review Symposium: Twentieth Anniversary of Employment Division v. Smith

The University of South Dakota School of Law hosted a symposium commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Employment Division v. Smith. This event brought together legal scholars and practitioners to reflect on the case's impact on the Free Exercise Clause and its broader implications for the intersection of religion and law.

Key topics included an analysis of the Smith decision's legal reasoning, its influence on subsequent jurisprudence, and discussions on religious liberty in the context of neutral laws of general applicability. Sessions featured presentations by experts such as Marci A. Hamilton, who provided an introduction to the symposium, and Richard F. Duncan, who examined denominational preferences and public scholarships.

The symposium offered attendees opportunities for networking and engaging with leading figures in constitutional law. Notable speakers included Mark S. Kende, who presented a comparative perspective on the free exercise of religion, and Zacheree S. Kelin, who discussed the narrowing definition of "substantial burden" in the Ninth Circuit.

This event was particularly relevant for legal professionals, academics, and students interested in constitutional law, religious freedoms, and the evolving landscape of First Amendment jurisprudence.