Law expert, author lectures tonight

The Daily Inter Lake

Peter Irons, a nationally renowned law expert and author, is set to lecture today as part of the Flathead Valley Community College's 2006 Honors Symposium.

Irons entitled his lecture "God on Trial: America's Religious Wars." This sixth lecture continues the symposium theme "Jefferson's Wall: America's Debate over Church and State."

Irons earned a doctorate from Boston University and graduated from Harvard Law School. He holds the title of emeritus professor of political science at the University of California-San Diego.

He has written numerous books about the U.S. Supreme Court and constitutional litigation, including "The New Deal Lawyers: Justice at War," "Courage of their Convictions," "Justice Delayed," "May It Please the Court" and "Brennan vs. Rehnquist: the Battle for the Constitution."

Most recently, Irons penned "A People's History of the Supreme Court" and "Jim Crow's Children: The Broken Promise of the Brown Decision."

Irons received the first Raoul Wallenberg Distinguished Visiting Professor of Human Rights Award from Rutgers University in 1988. He has lectured on constitutional law and civil liberties at Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, Stanford and other schools.

He also serves as a practicing civil-rights attorney and was lead counsel in the successful effort during the 1980s to reverse the World War II criminal convictions of Japanese Americans who challenged curfew and relocation orders.

Irons also served two terms on the American Civil Liberties Union board of directors.

The next lecture May 4 features Christopher Muste of the department of political science at the University of Montana-Missoula. He will address "Public Opinion on Issues of Church/State.

This and the other free symposium lectures begin at 7 p.m. in the WestCoast Hotel ballroom at Kalispell Center Mall. Because of limited seating and the popularity of the series, members of the public are encouraged to arrive early.

For more information, call 756-3822 or stop by the Kalispell campus of the community college for a brochure.