Conference 

# Property Rights on the 10th Anniversary of *Kelo v. City of New London*

Date and Time 

June 11, 2015 9 AM - 12:30 PM EDT 

Location 

1st floor/Wintergarden 

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##### Featuring 

Featuring **Ilya Somin**, Author, *The Grasping Hand:* Kelo v. City of New London *and the Limits of Eminent Domain*, and Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law; **Scott Bullock**, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice and Plaintiffs’ Counsel, *Kelo v. City of New London*; **Wesley W. Horton**, Partner, Horton, Shields & Knox, P.C. and Defendants’ Counsel, *Kelo v. City of New London*; **Dana Berliner**, Director of Litigation, Institute for Justice; **Jeremy Hopkins**, Waldo & Lyle, P.C.; moderated by **Ilya Shapiro**, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute; and **Roger Pilon**, Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute. 

[![](http://www.press.uchicago.edu/dms/ucp/books/jacket/978/02/26/25/9780226256603.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/Grasping-Hand-London-Limits-Eminent/dp/022625660X/?tag=catoinstitute-20)

In 2005 the Supreme Court ruled that the city of New London, Connecticut, could condemn residential properties and transfer them to a private developer for a planned office park (which never materialized). Although the Fifth Amendment permits taking private property only for “public use,” the Court held that transfers to private parties for economic development were a sufficiently public “purpose.” This unpopular ruling triggered an unprecedented political and judicial reaction, with 45 states limiting their eminent domain law. But many of these changes impose few or no genuine constraints.

In his detailed study of this controversial case — the first book-length analysis of *Kelo* by a legal scholar — Ilya Somin argues that the ruling was a grave error. Economic development and “blight” condemnations are unconstitutional under both originalist and “living Constitution” theories of legal interpretation. They also victimize the poor and the politically weak, and often destroy more economic value than they create.

Despite the case’s outcome, *Kelo* shattered what many believed to be a consensus that virtually any condemnation satisfies the Fifth Amendment. *Kelo* thus led to significant progress, but there is much work to be done. Please join us for a discussion of the state of property rights in America 10 years after the Supreme Court’s most notorious ruling on eminent domain.

| **9:00 a.m.** | **Welcoming Remarks (Recorded)** [Download a video of Welcoming Remarks](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cc-06-11-15-01.mp4) [Download a podcast of Welcoming Remarks](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cca-06-11-15-01.mp3) [**Richard Epstein**](https://www.cato.org/people/richard-epstein) Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Law, NYU Law School and Author, *Takings* (1985) **Keynote Address:** **Rep. Tom Reed (R‑NY)** Founder and Chairman, Congressional Private Property Rights Caucus |
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| **9:30 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.** | **Panel 1: *The Grasping Hand:* Kelo v. City of New London *and the Limits of Eminent Domain*** (University of Chicago Press, 2015) [Download a video of Panel 1](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cc-06-11-15-02.mp4) [Download a podcast of Panel 1](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cca-06-11-15-02.mp3) **Moderator: [Ilya Shapiro](https://www.cato.org/people/ilya-shapiro)** Senior Fellow, Cato Institute **[Ilya Somin](https://www.cato.org/people/ilya-somin)** Author, *The Grasping Hand:* Kelo v. City of New London *and the Limits of Eminent Domain*, and Professor of Law, George Mason University School of Law **Scott Bullock** Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice and Plaintiffs’ Counsel, *Kelo v. City of New London* **Wesley W. Horton** Partner, Horton, Shields & Knox, P.C. and Defendants’ Counsel, *Kelo v. City of New London* |
| **11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.** | **Panel 2: The Grassroots and Political Response to *Kelo*** [Download a video of Panel 2](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cc-06-11-15-03.mp4) [Download a podcast of Panel 2](https://cdn.cato.org/archive-2015/cca-06-11-15-03.mp3) **Moderator: [Roger Pilon](https://www.cato.org/people/roger-pilon)** Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute **Dana Berliner** Director of Litigation, Institute for Justice **Jeremy Hopkins** Partner, Waldo & Lyle, P.C. **Hilary O. Shelton** Senior Vice President for Policy & Advocacy, NAACP |
| **12:30** | **Lunch** |

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