The University of St. Thomas School of Law Journal of Law and Public Policy invites paper proposals for its Symposium on “Minnesota: State and Local Government in a Changing Federalist System,” to be held on February 12, 2027, via a hybrid model over Zoom and at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This interdisciplinary event aims to bring together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore and analyze the changing relationship between state and federal government.

Minnesota has become a focal point in escalating tensions between state and federal authority. Federal immigration enforcement operations, DOJ subpoenas targeting state officials and challenging the judiciary, the weaponization of funding tied to Medicaid and other programs, and environmental fights have each tested the boundaries of American federalism. Even smaller disputes, such as the President blaming Minnesota for a cyberattack on its water systems, reflect a broader pattern in which the working relationship between the state and federal government has deteriorated. This symposium invites papers exploring these tensions across four areas:
• Regulatory Authority
• Sovereignty and State/Federal Conflicts
• Funding and Coercion
• The Role of the Judiciary

We welcome proposals that engage critically, creatively, and constructively with the symposium theme.

Submission Guidelines & Timeline:
Proposals of 250 to 500 words are invited to be submitted by October 30, 2026, and should outline the paper’s main thesis, methodology, and conclusions. Please submit proposals to University of St. Thomas School of Law Professors Charles J. Reid, Jr. (cjreid@stthomas.edu) and Jennifer Cornell (corn2198@stthomas.edu) as well as the Journal of Law and Public Policy’s Editor-in-Chief Trevor Loeb (loeb1528@stthomas.edu) and Managing Editor Connor Edrington (cedrington@stthomas.edu).

Proposal Deadline: October 30, 2026
Notice of Acceptance: November 30, 2026
Symposium Date: February 12, 2027
Full Paper Submission: March 31, 2027

Review and Publication:
Accepted proposals are expected to result in full papers, which will be considered for publication in the University of St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy. Authors may participate in person or via Zoom. Travel grants may be available, and the Journal will assume costs for in-person speakers.

Contact Information:
For questions or additional information, please contact Sophia Perri at seperri@stthomas.edu or Sydney McGinn at sydney.mcginn@stthomas.edu.
We look forward to your submissions and to fostering an engaging discussion on this timely and local subject.