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OCTOBER

between law and theology.
“I’ve noticed a common theme in multiple passages — some in
Deuteronomy, some in Leviticus, some in Numbers — a provision for
the hungry,” Buckles said. “Special treatment of the vulnerable, including
immigrants, pervades the law.”
Nelson pointed to contrasts between law and religion, referencing the 1971
Supreme Court Case, Lemon v. Kurtzman. In an 8-1 decision, the Court
ruled that for a law to be considered constitutional under the Establishment
Clause of the First Amendment, it must be nonreligious.
“All government acts must have a secular purpose,” he said. “Government
acts must be supported by reasons that are not fundamentally religious or
theological in nature. This basic fundamental constitutional principle comes
UH Law Center and Anti-Defamation League speakers to us from the famous Lemon case and the first part of the Lemon test.”

UHLC & ADL ANALYZE INTERSECTION OF FAITH, LAW,
IMMIGRATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY UHLC ALUMNI GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR REUNION
The University of Houston Law Center and the Anti-Defamation WEEKEND 2017
League co-sponsored “The Effects of Immigration on America’s Local Alumni made their way back to the classroom with Professor David Dow
Communities,” an event consisting of three panel discussions that focused and Professor Emeritus Jacqueline Weaver during Reunion Weekend at the
on interplay between religious scripture, law, and public immigration policy University of Houston Law Center.
in Krost Hall. Weaver, an internationally known scholar in oil and gas law and energy

“When I think of the Anti-Defamation League, I think of a great civil law, delivered a presentation titled, “Role of the Regulator: Reflections on
rights organization and its message of standing up to hate is so pure,” Dean Forty Years of Research and Learning About Energy, Economics & the
Leonard M. Baynes said. “The Law Center has a long relationship with Environment.”
the Anti-Defamation League. One of our most prominent grads, Marvin She said regulators need to set the standards of the industry and must
Nathan is the national chair. He sponsors fellowships every year where Law be able to assess those standards before adopting them in regulations or
Center students get to work at his great organization.” guidelines. Despite no recent major accidents in the oil and gas industry,
Marvin Nathan, a 1966 alumnus of the Law Center, illustrated how the Weaver said regulators must hold the industry accountable to maintain
ADL’s message still rings true and referenced violent white supremacist safety.
demonstrations that occurred Aug. 11-12 in Charlottesville, Va., where one “After 40 years of my research, I basically decided the theme of it has been
counter-protester was killed.
“I’m forever grateful to the Law Center for educating me, enhancing my
legal skills and making me a lawyer that is always engaged in what is equal
justice and what is wrong,” Nathan said. “It’s a privilege to be here, and
I’d like to thank the Law Center for helping the ADL host this event and
applaud its integrity and credibility.”
The first discussion provided a current overview of immigration and
featured Geoffrey A. Hoffman, a clinical associate professor and director of
the Law Center’s Immigration Clinic. Hoffman discussed how immigration
laws tend to be altered frequently.
“A quote from (philosopher) Meister Eckhart I like to use is, ‘be willing to be
a beginner every single day,’” Hoffman said. “Practicing immigration law can
make you feel like a beginner every day. It’s changing on a daily basis, and it’s
a very fast-paced practice for my students and I.”
The next panel, titled: “Law, Religion and Public Policies,” included Law
Center Professors Johnny R. Buckles and James D. Nelson.
Buckles pointed to certain books in the Bible that show a complex history Reunion Weekend 2017

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