Law School Events
[PAST EVENT] Analyzing the Recently Argued Arizona Election Law Case - Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee
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Come join the Institute of Bill of Rights Law: Student Division in Analyzing the Recently Argued Arizona Election Law Case - Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee on Wednesday, April 14 during the lunch hour (12:45pm - 2pm). This event is the first in a two part series focusing on the Future of the Voting Rights Act. The second event is the Election Law Society Symposium, entitled "The Future of the Voting Rights Act," which takes place on Thursday, April 15 from 5pm - 6:15pm. Our event is co-sponsored by W&M Election Law Society and American Constitution Society, and will feature Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Professor at Harvard Law, Jason Torchinsky, Partner at Holtzman, Vogel, Josefiak, and Torchinsky, and moderated by Professor Stephen Cobb, former Deputy Attorney General in VA, Partner of Holland & Knight, and Adjunct Professor at William & Mary.
Nicholas Stephanopoulos’s research and teaching interests include election law, constitutional law, administrative law, legislation, and comparative law. His work is particularly focused on the intersection of democratic theory, empirical political science, and the American electoral system. He has been involved in several litigation efforts as well, including two partisan gerrymandering cases based on his scholarship and decided by the Supreme Court. Before joining the Harvard Law School faculty, Stephanopoulos was a Professor of Law at the University of Chicago Law School. He was previously an Associate-in-Law at Columbia Law School and an Associate in the Washington, DC office of Jenner & Block LLP. Before entering private practice, he clerked for Judge Raymond C. Fisher of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A graduate of Yale Law School, Stephanopoulos also holds an M.Phil. in European Studies from Cambridge University and an A.B. in Government from Harvard College, graduating summa cum laude. While at Yale, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Journal of International Law, received the Jewell Prize for best second-year student contribution to a law journal, and was a finalist in both the moot court and mock trial competitions. Stephanopoulos is a frequent television and radio commentator on legal issues. He is a co-founder of PlanScore, a website evaluating past, present, and proposed district plans. He is a member of policy reform initiatives including the Campaign Legal Center’s Litigation Strategy Council and the Committee for the Study of Digital Platforms.
Jason Torchinsky is a partner at Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky PLLC, specializing in campaign finance, election law, lobbying disclosure and issue advocacy groups. In addition to his practice counseling clients on compliance with campaign finance, ethics laws, lobbying disclosure and election laws, Jason has served as lead counsel in a number of litigation matters dealing with First Amendment freedoms and election law and redistricting issues. He has filed numerous amicus briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court, including one on behalf of the NRSC and NRCC cited in the Court’s opinion in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. Jason has also represented candidates across the country during post-election canvass and recount processes. Jason is a frequent speaker on campaign finance and election law matters, including appearances before the National Conference of State Legislators, the Republican National Lawyers Association, the Federalist Society, and the American Association of Political Consultants. Additionally, Jason serves as an adjunct professor at William & Mary Law School, where he teaches about the IRS and political campaigns. Prior to joining the firm, Jason was Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the United States Department of Justice. During the 2004 election cycle, Jason served as Deputy General Counsel to Bush-Cheney ’04 and Deputy General Counsel to the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee. He holds a B.A. in Government and Public Policy from William & Mary and a J.D. from William & Mary Law School.
Stephen Cobb is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office and is a member of the Public Policy & Regulation Group. Mr. Cobb is a former deputy attorney general of Virginia and presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Commerce. As an appointee of Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Mr. Cobb led the Government Operations and Transactions Division. Prior to his appointment as deputy attorney general, Mr. Cobb served as a senior advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Mr. Cobb also has served as counsel and partner for leading law firms in Virginia, where he represented financial institutions and business entities in a variety of disputes in state and federal courts across the country. During his private practice, Mr. Cobb served as general counsel to the Democratic Party of Virginia, advising the party and its officials through presidential and gubernatorial election cycles on legal issues pertaining to legislative policy, labor and employment, as well as political and election law. Additionally, Mr. Cobb served as special counsel to Rock the Vote, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization devoted to voting rights and engaging youth voters. Before entering private practice, Mr. Cobb was a law clerk for the Honorable Barry Poretz in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Prior to and after obtaining his legal education, Mr. Cobb worked on numerous local, state and national political campaigns, as well as served as a junior associate at one of Washington, D.C.'s top public policy firms. As a result of his legal and political background, Mr. Cobb has appeared regularly on various news programs, including Fox News, Fox Business and Newsmax, to provide analysis and insight on issues of law, policy and politics. Mr. Cobb also has served as an adjunct law professor at William & Mary Law School and George Mason University School of Law.