Kent State University Libraries and the Honors College co-hosted a Constitution Day event on Friday, September 16, at 1 p.m. in University Libraries’ Harrick Garden Room. Accomplished New York attorney and Kent State alumnus Lloyd De Vos presented “Equal Justice – Under Law – For All” focusing on the U.S. Constitution’s impact on our government. Additionally, De Vos discussed his personal experience arguing a case before the Supreme Court and his views on a living Constitution. Following De Vos’ address, he and a panel of students, moderated by Professor of Political Science Christopher Banks, answered questions from the audience. The event was free and open to the public. It was held in person and broadcast virtually.

De Vos is the founder and senior partner of De Vos & Co. PLLC, a boutique law firm, located in New York City, that specializes in providing legal advice on international tax and business matters. As an adjunct professor of at Georgetown University Law Center, De Vos has been teaching the course Tax Treaties, as part of the Master of Laws in Taxation degree program, since 2008. Prior to this appointment, he was a visiting professor and lecturer at the McGeorge School of Law of the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California; the University of Haifa, Israel; and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has also chaired and lectured at programs and seminars sponsored by the United States Department of Commerce and the American Management Associations.

De Vos was the successful plaintiff in the civil rights case Thorstenn v. Barnard, 489 U.S. 546 (1989), decided by the United States Supreme Court. He filed the case to enforce his rights under the Privileges and Immunities clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

He has held several respected board positions, including serving on the Board of Visitors of Georgetown University Law Center from 2008 through 2019 as a full member and from 2019 to date as an emeritus member. De Vos serves on the Section on Taxation of the American Bar Association and the Section Committee on United States Taxation of Foreigners and Tax Treaties. He is also the author and co-author of numerous publications in the field of international taxation.

An alumnus of Kent State University, De Vos earned bachelor’s degrees, ’70, in history, political science and accounting, all with cum laude honors and distinctions. He was awarded a juris doctor degree from Georgetown University in 1973 and a Master’s of Laws in Taxation degree from New York University in 1977.