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.
Who Owns a Shipwreck?
How a Civil War shipwreck sent a North Carolina court to medieval English law
Latest Posts
Preliminary Emancipation Day: A Brief Look at What Followed
On Preliminary Emancipation Day, revisit one chapter in the legal history that followed emancipation: the Reconstruction-era courts of the Freedmen’s Bureau.
The Constitution as a Unifying Force
Reflections on Yuval Levin’s “American Covenant” and the Constitution’s role in helping us navigate our differences.
When the Final Call Must Stand
Kim Mueller considers what soccer’s final whistle can teach us about judicial independence, fair process, and respecting lawful outcomes.
A July 4 Tradition: Reading the Declaration Aloud
Director Kim Mueller reflects on July 2, July 4, and the unfinished work of forming a more perfect union.