13th Annual Regional Sociolegal Studies Conference

Centre for Criminology, University of Toronto, Canadiana Building, 14 Queen's Park Crescent West

THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
Conference Program

10:00 Coffee, registration, and introductions

10:30 ROUNDTABLE: LAW, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Research on social movements has usually focused on issues around emergence and mobilization, and has paid less attention to the social, political and legal effects (intended and unintended) of certain anti-discrimination policies and practices. This panel will highlight socio-legal research on the characteristics and consequences of various movements organized around issues such as anti-racism, mental illness and LGBT rights, and will open up discussions about anti-stigma/discrimination policies, comparative legal frameworks, framing, narrative, and citizenship.

Moderator: Lynn Mather, UB Law & Political Science

Jackie Gehring, Political Science, Allegheny College, "Framed by the Past: Racial Policymaking and the Nazi-era Racism Frame in the E.U."
Audrey Macklin, University of Toronto Law, "Representation Across Jurisdictions: A Canadian in Guantanamo Bay"
Athena Mutua, UB Law, "Restoring Justice to Civil Rights Activists: New Historiography and the Long Civil Rights Era"
Miriam Smith, School of Public Policy and Administration, York University, "Political Institutions and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights in the U.S. and Canada"
Kimberly White, Law & Society, York University, "(Anti)Stigma, Citizenship and the Creation of a Mental Health Movement"  

12:15 Lunch 

1:15

Breakout sessions on topics such as Human Rights; Immigration Law and Practice; Law, Family and Diversity; Law, Space and Place; Legal History; and Religion and Law

2:00 ROUNDTABLE: CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGES OF RISK

Legal processes are in part shaped by knowledges of non-legal origin -- not only traditional kinds of expertise, such as forensic psychiatry, child welfare, economics, or science, but also information about public opinion, affidavits from advocacy groups, and reports on individuals or on issues provided for legal purposes by community agencies. What extra-legal knowledges often have in common is that they are increasingly concerned with measuring and evaluating risks (not only risk to the public or to potential victims but also risks to institutions). This panel showcases some of the work being done by socio-legal scholars on the role played by various knowledges of risk and danger in legal proceedings and in the construction of legal policy.

Moderator: Mary Condon, Osgoode Hall Law

Robert Berger, UB Law,"Translating Expertise into Public Acceptance for Emerging Energy Technologies"
Kelly Hannah-Moffat, Sociology, UT Mississauga and Paula Maurutto, Sociology, UT Mississauga, "How Community Agencies Shape Judicial Decisions"
Stepan Wood, Osgoode Hall Law, "Sharing Knowledges of Risk: Citizen Engagement in Canadian Biotechnology Policy"
Sue Mangold, UB Law, "Legal Responses to Extra-Legal Knowledge Over Time: The Law of Foster Care Funding"
James Wooten, UB Law, "Competing Conceptions of Risk and Liability in the Governance of Private Pension Plans"

4:00 pm Reception at Hart House

University of Toronto's historic pub/restaurant with outdoor patio/St. George Campus. Praised as "best place to hang out" according to "Best of Toronto 2006"

Registration: All interested faculty and graduate/law students are invited to attend. No fee, but registration is required for lunch.

Driving and Parking

Driving and Parking Information

From the Gardiner Expressway, exit the highway at Spadina Avenue, driving north on Spadina Avenue until you reach College Street. Turn right onto College Street, then left at St. George Street. Continue on St. George Street, passing Harbord Street. Turn right into 97 St. George Street parking lot - directly across from Robarts Library. Parking cost is $14.00 for the day.

Walking instructions to the Centre of Criminology from the parking lot

Walk south on St. George Street until you reach Hoskin Avenue (Harbord). Turn left and continue walking until you reach Queen's Park Crescent West. Turn right and walk until you reach 14 Queen's Park Crescent West. You have arrived at the Canadiana Building. The Centre of Criminology is located on the first and second floors.

Organizers

For further information, please contact the conference organizers:
Lynn Mather, UB Law and Political Science
Martha McCluskey, UB Law
Mariana Valverde, UT Criminology
Kimberly White, Law & Society, York University
Stepan Wood, Osgoode Hall Law

 

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