CFP: Transformative Justice in a World on Fire Conference in Hawaii
Call for Presentations and Papers
Transformative Justice in a World on Fire
June 26-29, 2025
William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai‘i
Organized by: Conference of Asian Pacific American Law Faculty (CAPALF), Western Law Teachers of Color (WLTC), and the William S. Richardson School of Law
As wars rage overseas and cities burn at home, we are living in a period of seemingly endless and ever-escalating crises. Exacerbating the chaos, the federal government is dismantling agencies and ramping up mass deportations, while climate risks and public health emergencies mount. At the same time, serious questions about the stability of the constitutional order have arisen as executive branch officials question judicial independence and non-elected officials wield governmental authority in unprecedented ways.
During such times, it is understandable that there would be calls to reinforce the rule of law and fortify democratic institutions. Yet adopting an entirely defensive stance in the face of today’s crises would be a mistake. Progressive legal movements have long viewed traditional rule-of-law principles and existing institutions as insufficient to realize true justice, equality, and liberation. Moreover, as global pressures on vulnerable populations intensify, the prospect of forming new, heretofore unlikely coalitions in pursuit of fundamental change now seems attainable. In short, there may be both a pressing need for and a growing openness to conversations about transformative justice. As a region, the Pacific has been both among the most vulnerable and the most generative in imagining a better future, so it is fitting that we gather in Hawai‘i to advance that dialogue.
Submission Guidelines: We invite proposals for presentations relating to the conference theme. Topics may focus on substantive law; lawyering strategies; movement, curricula, and coalition building; professional development and identity formation; and legal education, among other possibilities. This academic conference will also include opportunities for participants to present works in progress and incubator ideas on any topic relating to legal scholarship, legal education, and curricular development. Please indicate whether you are submitting a presentation proposal or a paper abstract.
- Email Address for Submissions and Inquiries: capalf2025@gmail.com
- Proposal/Abstract Submission Deadline:April 1, 2025
- Notification of Acceptance:April 15, 2025
Registration and Participation: Further details regarding registration, accommodations, and other logistics will be forthcoming.
This event is being organized by CAPALF and WLTC. All who are interested in the conference theme are invited to submit proposals and to register as attendees.