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Congresswoman Susan Brooks, ’85, offered the keynote lecture during the Indiana Law Review Symposium event titled “Partisan Conflict, Political Structure, and Culture” on November 6 at the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law. The event looked at partisanship and its impact on the political process as it relates to Congress, the presidency, and federal courts.

Congresswoman Brooks’ topic was “Partisan Conflict in Congress: An Insider’s Perspective.” She talked about the ways she believes Congress has become more partisan over the last 20 years, and outlined a few ways in which she believes this could be addressed. Brooks has represented Indiana’s Fifth District since January 2013. She has served as senior vice president and general counsel at Ivy Tech Community College, as the U.S. Attorney for Indiana’s Southern District, and as a deputy mayor of Indianapolis. Her legal practice includes stints in the government services practice group at the Indianapolis office of Ice Miller, and as a criminal defense attorney at the Indianapolis firm McClure McClure & Kammen.

The day commenced with an overview of “The Problem of Excessive Partisan Conflict,” presented by Professor Jack Balkin of Yale Law School and Professor Sanford Levinson of the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. Professor Balkin is the founder and editor of the group blog “Balkinization,” and Professor Levinson is a frequent contributor to that blog.

“Congress and Partisan Conflict” was the next subject examined during the event, with a presentation from Professor Nolan McCarty of Princeton University’s Department of Politics, and Professor Mark Rosen if IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Following Congresswoman Brooks lecture was a discussion of “The Presidency and Partisan Conflict.” Professor John Graham of the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and IU McKinney Professor David Orentlicher shared their insights on this subject.

The program concluded with “Federal Courts and Partisan Conflict,” which was discussed by Professor Mark Graber of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and Judge David Hamilton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

In the photo from left are ILR Symposium Editor Alexandra Blackwell, Professor Graham, Professor Orentlicher, Professor Graber, Congresswoman Brooks, Judge Hamilton, Professor Levinson, Professor Balkin, Professor McCarty, Professor Rosen, and ILR Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Hanauer.