The UNM Law School is sponsoring a teach-in today at the Law School Forum a 11:30 a.m. to address some of the issues related to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
Leo Romero, professor of law and former dean of the law school, will mediate the event. Romero said the purpose of the teach-in is to address issues concerning calls for increased security and increased law enforcement power in the aftermath of the attacks.
"We want students to understand what the constitutional limits are involving the issues of security and civil rights," Romero said. "We also want them to get a better understanding about measures that are being purposed by government officials."
Romero said one of the questions deals with whether the government needs to increase the law enforcement's power in order to increase security and bring to justice those responsible for terrorist acts. Another question is whether the government's law enforcement tools are sufficient enough to deal with terrorism and its prevention, as well as identifying and investigating possible terrorists.
"We want the students to see that there are trade-offs between increased security and constitutional rights and liberties, and why the Constitution permits some security proposals and why it prohibits others," Romero said.
The teach-in will address issues such as racial profiling, the need for additional wiretapping powers and detentions of immigrants in light of the protections in the Constitution, Romero said.
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"One of the main purposes of the teach-in is to discover what costs we are willing to pay for increased security due to the recent terrorists attacks," Romero said.
Participants of the teach-in include David Williams, Assistant U.S. Attorney of Albuquerque, and Doug Beldon from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Albuquerque office.
Tova Indritz, Albuquerque private practice attorney and former federal public defender, will represent the New Mexico American Civil Liberties Union.
Nancy Hollander, Albuquerque private practice attorney and past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, also will join the group representing the New Mexico Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
