Speaking Engagement

Nov 2, 2018

Leon Rodriguez a Panelist for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Public Briefing "Are Rights a Reality? Evaluating Federal Civil Rights Enforcement"

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Address

Washington, D.C.

Leon Rodriguez, partner of Seyfarth’s Labor & Employment department, co-chair of the firm's Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team, chair of the firm’s Health Care Regulatory and Compliance Affinity Group, and a co-chair of the Health Care Privacy, Security and HIPAA Affinity Group is presenting as a panelist for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Public Briefing "Are Rights a Reality? Evaluating Federal Civil Rights Enforcement". Leon will sit on the first panel of the briefing: Current and Former Federal Agency Officials.

The Commission will delve into the critical question of whether the federal government is meeting its obligation to the American people to protect and vindicate their civil rights across the justice system and other issue areas, such as education, employment, housing, healthcare, immigration, and policing. The Commission will explore:

  • What are the key elements for effective civil rights enforcement?
  • What are the main goals of effective enforcement, and are they being met?
  • Do federal agencies, such as the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, have sufficient resources – including budget and staffing – to fulfill their civil rights responsibilities?
  • Are sufficient practices in place to determine whether agencies address the full scope of civil rights issues within their respective jurisdictions?

The Commission will hear from current and former federal officials, academic and legal experts, and advocates. The public can address the Commission in an open comment session. The briefing will also be live-streamed