UCS Academy Guest Lecture series - 29/01/13 - 5.30-7.30pm

Colonel James Durant explores the development of the U.S. Constitution and its Amendments with a particular focus on the First Amendment – Freedom of Speech and Religion, the Fourth Amendment – Search and Seizure, the Fifth Amendment – Self Incrimination, the Eighth Amendment – Cruel and Unusual Punishment, and finally the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments – Citizenship, Equal Rights Under the Law and Voting. Colonel Durant looks at the American concept of governmental restraints on self-expression – uncovering protections afforded to American citizens to freely practice religion and government to not recognise a particular religion under an American system that separated church and state. He also explores the idea of due process of law and protections afforded to criminally accused American citizens, understanding protection against self-incrimination and its development in law. We shall learn of the concept of cruel and unusual punishment and the American Civil War Amendments, focusing on citizenship for freemen, equal protection under law for freemen, and voting rights for freemen.

Profile: Colonel James Durant is an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Distinguished Graduate who has achieved major awards and decorations throughout his career. He is the Director of Legal Services for United States Air Force Europe – United Kingdom situated at RAF Mildenhall. In this capacity, he is legal advisor to the Senior Department of Defense representative to the UK, the primary military liaison to Her Majesty’s Government. Additionally, he leads USAFE-UK International Law Division. He received a BA from Howard University and JD in 1990. He is admitted to practise law before the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the United States Supreme Court and is a sitting member of the Rule of Law Initiative Board of Directors of the American Bar Association.