The Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School will host a two-part series exploring the rule of law and judicial independence in today’s legal and political landscape. As part of the Conversation Series on Law & Democracy, Paul W. Grimm, the David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute, will moderate discussions with legal experts on both the historical and philosophical foundations of the rule of law and judicial independence and present-day threats. Both events will be recorded. Subscribe to email updates from the Institute to be notified when the videos are available on Duke Law’s YouTube channel.
Defending the Judiciary
March 3, 2025 • 12:30 PM • Law School 4055
Paul W. Grimm in conversation with Duke Law Professors Marin Levy, Ernie Young, and Neil Siegel
Lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to reshape the federal government have resulted in injunctions, restraining orders, and threats against the judges who are handling the cases. But these threats are not new — threats and acts of violence and retribution against judges have dramatically increased in recent years and are coming from all sides of the political spectrum. What impact do these threats have on judicial independence and the rule of law? What can or should be done to defend judges? What happens if the political branches of government ignore court orders? And what can be done to improve public support of the courts? Paul W. Grimm, the David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute, will moderate the discussion with Duke Law Professors Marin Levy, Ernie Young, and Neil Siegel. Lunch will be provided on a first come first served basis.
What is the Rule of Law?
March 5, 2025 • 12:30 PM • Room 4055
Paul W. Grimm in conversation with rule of law scholar Gerald Postema
Join Judge Paul Grimm, the David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute, for a conversation with Professor Gerald Postema about the Rule of Law — how it’s defined, how it has developed through history, and the threats it faces today, in our country and abroad. Professor Postema is an emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the author of numerous books and articles on the rule of law and the moral, ethical, and philosophical dimensions of law and democracy. His most recent book is Law’s Rule: The Nature, Value, and Viability of the Rule of Law (Oxford University Press, 2022). He is a former Guggenheim Fellow, Rockefeller Fellow (Bellagio), Medlin Fellow (National Humanities Center), Fellow of the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies, and Visiting Fellow at the European University Institute (Florence). Lunch will be provided on a first come first served basis.
The Conversation Series on Law & Democracy is sponsored by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School. Contact Lora Beth Farmer at lora.farmer@law.duke.edu if you have any questions.