Source:  NC FreeEnterprise Foundation, 2/8/10

Understanding Citizens United v. FEC
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation auditorium
5301 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC

This seminar will feature an informative presentation and a panel discussion of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision on January 21, 2010 that swept aside decades of restrictions on corporate spending in political campaigns. Now that corporations, trade associations, unions and individuals have much broader constitutionally recognized free speech rights with respect to political campaign activities and electioneering communications, what does this mean for politics in North Carolina? Our presenters and panel of experts will help unpack the 170-plus page opinion and explain the practical application of the Citizens United decision.

The Presentation: "Corporate Political Speech -- New Opportunities and Obstacles after Citizens United v. FEC" will be presented by Charles F. Marshall and Julia C. Ambrose, attorneys with Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP. Marshall and Ambrose practice constitutional law and litigation and advise national corporations and trade  associations on a variety of litigation and regulatory matters. Mr. Marshall is a former legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney, and was an outside counsel to the McCain-Palin campaign for media law issues in 2008. Ms. Ambrose is a former law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and veteran of two large Washington law firms.

The Panelists: Our panel of experts incudes Gary O. Bartlett, Executive Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections and Hunter Bacot, Associate Professor of Political Science at Elon University and Director of the Elon University Poll.

Space is limited, so RSVP to the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation by email at info@ncfef.orgor by by phone at (919) 896-8347 as soon as possible if you are able to attend.