Neal Katyal ’95 To Be Honored at May 2 PANA Alumni Banquet

The Pacific Islander, Asian, and Native American Students Association (PANA) will host its second annual Alumni Banquet on Friday, May 2, at the Union League Café, 1032 Chapel Street, New Haven. The banquet is open to PANA alumni, their guests, and members of the Yale Law School community and is free of charge. At the banquet, PANA will honor Neal Katyal ’95, Paul and Patricia Saunders Professor of National Security Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Professor Katyal was selected for recognition because of his distinguished service in government, support of the public interest, and numerous contributions to the community. He served as lead attorney in the landmark Supreme Court case, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, a challenge to the military tribunals set up by President Bush to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In a 5-3 decision, the Court ruled that the military commissions violated military and international law.

An expert in national security law, the U.S. Constitution, criminal law, and the Geneva Conventions, Katyal is the director of the Center on National Security and the Law at Georgetown Law. He previously served as National Security Adviser in the U.S. Justice Department and was commissioned by President Clinton to co-author a report on the ways the legal profession can enhance its pro bono activities and diversify the bar.

The Alumni Banquet begins with a reception at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner and Professor Katyal’s keynote talk at 8:00 p.m.  Those interested in attending should RSVP to pana@yale.edu. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Pacific Islander, Asian, and Native American Law Students’ Association is a coalition that seeks to promote community among its members and to create a more diverse educational environment. More information is available on the PANA website.