Austin College Hosts 2026 Dr. Kenneth Street Law Symposium

SHERMAN, TEXAS —Austin College hosted its annual Dr. Kenneth Street Law Symposium on Thursday, February 19, with the theme, “Promises, Preambles, & Privileges: Debating the Role of Government 250 Years Later.”

The event was sponsored by the Austin College Pre-Law Society, Austin College Student Assembly, Hon. Andy Porter ’95, The Sumners Foundation of Dallas, Adam B. Reed ’94 & Associates, Buck ’60 and Robyn McChesney Files ’62, and Grayson County Bar Association. The afternoon included four panels and a luncheon with keynote speaker Associate Dean Catherine Greene Burnett of South Texas College of Law.

The event was separated into five sessions followed by a reception:

Panel 1: The Death Penalty, Reasonable Bail, and a More Perfect Union: Debating the 8th Amendment’s Contours Two Centuries Later

Luncheon & Keynote: Promises, Preambles, & Privileges: Debating the Role of Government 250 Years Later

Panel 2: Native Americans and the American Government, Principles of Federalism & Sovereignty After McGirt v. Oklahoma 

Panel 3: Voter Maps & Political Landscapes: How Electoral Redistricting has Changed Since 1962’s Baker v. Carr

Panel 4: An 18th Century Constitution, a 19th Century Amendment, and 21st Century Problems: Discussing Constitutional Issues in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

During the luncheon, Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Frank Rohmer was recognized by the Austin College “L” Alumni Association for his service to the Austin College Pre-Law Society, Dr. Kenneth Street Law Symposium, and his students in anticipation and recognition of his retirement at the end of this academic year. “I’d like to publicly thank Dr. Rohmer for helping start the Law Symposium so many years ago and shepherding it into one of North Texas’s premier non-traditional continuing legal education events,” said Hon. Andy Porter. “He is first and foremost a teacher, and he has poured his heart, his soul, and his brilliant mind into the holistic development of generations of ’Roos. And we are all the better for it.”

Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.