Defending the Judiciary Conference

Overview

The Bolch Judicial Institute is mobilizing the legal profession to defend judges and the judiciary from a growing wave of unfair and inappropriate attacks that threaten judicial independence and diminish public faith in our judicial system. Along with a committee of bar leaders, the Institute will host a Defending the Judiciary conference to discuss the challenges facing the judiciary and what bar leaders should do to address the problems. Topics to be explored include confronting online threats and disinformation; legislative efforts to protect judges’ safety; and what judges and lawyers can do to defend judges and protect judicial independence. Attendance at this event is by invitation only.

If you are interested in attending or have questions about the program, please contact the Bolch Judicial Institute at bolchjudicialinstitute@law.duke.edu.

Thank you program sponsors!

Ironwall by Incogni (ironwall360.com)

Lawyers for Civil Justice (lfcj.com)

The Federal Bar Association (fedbar.org) & the Foundation of the Federal Bar Association (fedbar.org/foundation)

ABOTA National Executive Committee (abota.org)

American Association for Justice (justice.org)

American College of Trial Lawyers (actl.com)

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this conference. Please contact Lora Beth Farmer for details.

Speakers & Agenda

Speakers

Senior U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

Aaron Nash
Director, Certification & Licensing Division, Arizona Supreme Court

Judge Michael Newman
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

Judge Robin L. Rosenberg
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Judge Vince Rozier, Jr.
Wake County Superior Court, North Carolina

Jesse Rutledge
Vice President, Public Affairs, National Center for State Courts

Judge Esther Salas
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey

Steve Silverman
President and CEO, Endurance Strategic Communications, LLC

Barbara Smith
Partner and Co-Chair, Appellate and Supreme Court Group
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Prof. Shane Stansbury
Duke Law School

Ron Zayas
CEO of Ironwall of Incogni

Travel Information

Air Travel

The closest airport to Duke’s campus is the Raleigh/Durham airport (RDU), approximately 25-30 minutes from the airport to the JB Duke hotel or other nearby hotels. The Greensboro Airport (Piedmont Triad International) is about an hour away from Duke.

Local Hotels

Below are the hotels that are nearest to Duke’s campus and the conference venue. Downtown Durham has several more hotels that are just 10-15 minutes away by car. We encourage you to book your room early, as October is a busy month in Durham and around campus. Visit Duke Law’s website for more information about visiting Duke Law School (including maps).

JB Duke Hotel – Conference venue
Washington Duke Inn – 0.3 miles to conference venue
Marriott AC Hotel – 1.3 miles to conference venue
The Lodge at Duke Medical Center – 2 miles to conference venue

Transportation

Rideshare apps, such as Uber and Lyft, are readily available, as are local cab companies.

Dietary Information

Meals will be provided during the conference at no charge (Thursday dinner; Friday breakfast and lunch). Please let us know if you have any allergies or need any dietary accommodations. Should you choose to dine elsewhere in the area during your stay, there are many excellent restaurants nearby.

Please contact Ann Yandian to convey dietary needs or other special accommodations and any questions about registration and travel. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this conference. Please contact Lora Beth Farmer for details.