May 5: Under Siege The American Judiciary and the Rule of Law

Description:
This program will examine the rising criticism, political pressures and physical threats confronting judges and courts, and the broader implications of these developments for judicial independence and our constitutional order. 

Panels featuring respected jurists, distinguished scholars, and prominent lawyers will explore ethical boundaries, systemic responses, and the role of the legal profession in safeguarding and advocating for the rule of law. Attendees will gain insight into both the challenges facing the judiciary today and the concrete steps lawyers and institutions can take to help protect our republic.

Title:
Under Siege: The American Judiciary and the Rule of Law

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM CDT
Register Now

Presented by:
The Chicago Bar Association, the Cummins Family Justice Foundation, and the Berkeley Judicial Institute.

Agenda

9:00 AM Welcome and Introduction
Daniel J. Cummins, The Cummins Family Justice Foundation

9:15 AM to 10:30 AM The Landscape of Attacks on Judges
Moderator: Hon. Jeremy Fogel (ret.), Berkeley Judicial Institute
Recorded remarks: Hon. Esther Salas, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
Panelists: Hon. Joan Lefkow; Hon. P. Scott Neville, Jr.; Hon. James L. Robart

10:45 AM to 12:00 PM Judicial Independence Under Pressure
Moderator: Hon. M. Margaret McKeown
Panelists: Hon. Virginia M. Kendall; Hon. Debra L. Stephens; Charles Gardner Geyh

12:15 PM to 1:15 PM Luncheon
Hon. Stephen Breyer (ret.)
Hon. Diane P. Wood (ret.)
Moderator: Hon. M. Margaret McKeown

1:30 PM to 2:45 PM Protecting the Integrity of the Judicial Disciplinary Process
Moderator: Robert H. Tembeckjian
Panelists: Robert P. Deyling; Hon. Teri L. Jackson; Paula Wolff; Vincent E. Doyle III

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM Where Do We Go from Here
Moderator: Robert Cummins
Panelists: Hon. Ruben Castillo (ret.); Daniel A. Cotter; Hon. Jeremy Fogel (ret.); Maurice Possley; Joseph H. Thompson; Andrew W. Vail; Elizabeth Wright

4:15 PM Closing Remarks
Molly Cummins

Credit:
The event announcement does not discuss CLE Credit. You may be able to self-apply, depending on the rules in your state.

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