Recognizing Constitution Day, on Monday, September 9, with the Court of Appeals in Seward, NE involved a unique twist: A free continuing legal education event at Concordia University sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and designed in conjunction with university faculty. The event focused on “Meyer v. Nebraska” and its ongoing relevance 100 years after the statute at issue was adopted by the Nebraska Legislature. The law, at the time, prohibited the teaching of grade school children in any modern language other than English. The U.S. Supreme Court declared the state law unconstitutional in 1923.

The seminar included a welcome from Nebraska Court of Appeals Chief Judge Frankie Moore and a review of the case by Judge Rachel Daugherty, and Associate Professor of History John Hink.

Professors Sara Houston and Kevin Ruser wrapped-up the session with an analysis from the perspectives of the constitution and immigration. Kurth Brashear, the university’s general counsel, conducted a question and answer session.

The session was held in the new Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business on the university campus.

Following the seminar, participants gathered in downtown Seward for an interactive session of “Constitutional Trivia” organized by Court of Appeals Judge Riko Bishop.