Annual Childress Lecture Addresses Immigration and the Supreme Court
On Oct. 10, 2025, Saint Louis University School of Law and the Saint Louis University Law Journal hosted the annual Richard J. Childress Lecture at Scott Hall. This year’s lecture, with a keynote by Professor Kevin Johnson of University of California Davis School of Law, focused on immigration and the United States Supreme Court during the second Trump administration.
Professor Johnson, the Mabie-Apallas Distinguished Professor of Law, detailed the United States Supreme Court cases involving immigration, many of which appeared on the court’s shadow docket. He highlighted the deference the Supreme Court has paid to the administration in many of the cases, including the decision on Immigration and Customs Enforcement patrols in Los Angeles. Though he also referenced A.A.R.P v. Trump, where the Supreme Court rejected the administration’s attempt to remove people under the Alien Enemies Act.
Looking ahead, Johnson noted, “Future actions will test the rule of law as this administration continues to test the limits of the law.”
Panelists for the day included:
- Sabrina Balgamwalla, associate professor, director, Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, and Edward J. Littlejohn Research Scholar, Wayne State University Law School
- Matthew Boaz, assistant professor, University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law
- Cindy Buys, professor, Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School
- Stella Elias, professor, Bouma Family Fellow, University of Iowa College of Law
- Sheldon Evans, professor, Washington University St. Louis School of Law
- Nicole Hallett, clinical professor of law, director, Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School
- Christopher Kozoll, assistant professor, director, Immigration Clinic, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
- Jessica Mayo, attorney, co-director, Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project
- Amelia McGowan, assistant professor, director, Immigration Clinic, University of Arkansas School of Law
- Richard Middleton, adjunct professor, Saint Louis University School of Law
- David Rubenstein, professor, James R. Ahrens Chair in Constitutional Law, director, Robert J. Dole Center for Law and Government, Washburn University School of Law
- Sury Sanchez, staff attorney, St. Francis Community Services Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry
The Richard J. Childress Memorial Lecture, named in honor of former Dean Richard J. Childress (1969-1976), is a premier academic event highlighting a provocative and timely area of law. The lecture commemorates the contributions Dean Childress made academically, ethically and socially to benefit the Saint Louis University School of Law.
Dean Childress was a member of the faculty at SLU LAW for almost 30 years and then served for 15 years as associate dean and dean. Among other achievements, Dean Childress is credited with founding the Saint Louis University Law Journal.