Civil Dialogue
— A Blog —Explore information and facts about law, the judiciary, courts, and the rule of law through blog posts written by staff, student fellows, and friends of the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law.
Tension by Design: Understanding the Separation of Powers
A clear explanation of the separation of powers and checks and balances in the U.S. government, including historical roots and modern applications.
Latest Posts
Pathways to Justice: Understanding Adversarial and Inquisitorial Systems
A clear explanation of adversarial and inquisitorial legal systems, their strengths and challenges, and why many modern courts blend both traditions.
Bolch Judicial Institute Launches Nonpartisan Civics Education Program
by Michelle Kaminsky t a time of heightened attention on the courts — and record-high threats against judges — the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School has launched a new initiative to improve understanding of the judiciary and promote civic...
Essay: “Participatory Democracy in Action” by David F. Levi
In an essay for NYU’s Democracy Project, David F. Levi, a former federal judge and director emeritus of the Bolch Judicial Institute, reflects on his role mediating a dispute over the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant permit in New Mexico. Over four days, citizen groups,...
Jurists and Lawyers Revisit First Principles at Inaugural Santa Fe Seminar
Pictured Above (from left to right): the Hon. Kimberly Mueller, incoming Bolch Judicial Institute director and senior California U.S. district judge; the Hon. Paul Grimm, outgoing director of the Bolch Judicial Institute and retired Maryland U.S. district judge;...