# Is Liberty Losing Ground in America? **BOOK FORUM Thursday, October 27, 2011 Noon (Luncheon to Follow)** Featuring **David K. Shipler**, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Author, *The Rights of the People* (Knopf, 2011); and **Susan N. Herman**, President of the American Civil Liberties Union, Author, *Taking Liberties* (Oxford University Press, 2011); with comments by **Paul Rosenzweig**, Visiting Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; moderated by **Timothy Lynch**, Director, Cato Institute Project on Criminal Justice. Because of the ongoing construction in our building expansion, this Cato Institute Book Forum will be held at Mount Vernon Place, Undercroft Auditorium 900 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001 [![QuickTime](/weekly/quicktime.gif)](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2011/cbf-10-27-11.mp4)[Watch the Event in QuickTime (M4V)](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2011/cbf-10-27-11.mp4) [](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2011/cbfa-10-27-11.mp3) [![Media Name: ipod.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/download-remote-images/object.cato.org/169672258913/ipod.jpg?itok=5gSrqX94)](/sites/cato.org/files/download-remote-images/object.cato.org/169672258913/ipod.jpg) [Download a Podcast of the Event (MP3)](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2011/cbfa-10-27-11.mp3)America is widely known as the land of the free, but is it also true that liberty has been yielding ground to government power? Two recent books maintain that civil liberties have dramatically eroded here in recent years. ACLU president Susan Herman argues that our constitutional system of checks and balances is breaking down because of exaggerated claims of presidential power in our war against al Qaeda terrorists. That shift in power has made it difficult for the courts to fully examine whether certain policies are constitutional. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Shipler does not dispute the erosion of liberty since the 9/11 attacks, but he says the Bill of Rights has also deteriorated because of the war on drugs. His book relates numerous stories of searches without warrants, punishments without due process, and other unreasonable procedures. In criminal justice as in counterterrorism, Shipler argues, the executive branch has grabbed immense power and distorted the process of determining guilt or innocence. Join us for a discussion of these legal trends and what can be done to correct them. Registration is now closed. If you are still interested in attending, please contact . [![Media Name: printer.gif](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/download-remote-images/object.cato.org/169672258913/printer.gif?itok=iwey16r1)](/sites/cato.org/files/download-remote-images/object.cato.org/169672258913/printer.gif) [Printer Friendly Version](/event.php?eventid=8333&print=Y)