A two-day national symposium at UW Law, “Neither Sword Nor Purse,” will convene retired federal judges, legal leaders, scholars, and journalists to examine the rule of law, the foundations of judicial independence, and current attacks on courts. Speakers and panels will also focus on public trust, civic education, and strategies for addressing misinformation about our judiciary.
While it took a Broadway musical to put Alexander Hamilton back in the public eye, attacks on the Constitution have kept him here. In his Federalist No. 78 essay defending the necessity of an independent judiciary, Hamilton observes that the judicial branch has neither “the sword” (military authority) nor “the purse” (fiscal authority). Thus, judicial independence and impartiality must be protected from undue interference.
Free and Open to the Public!
Dates: April 17+18, 2026
Times: 8am-5pm Friday, 7:45am-12:30 pm Saturday (Pacific Time)
Format: Livestreamed through TVW.org or the
UW Law website
Also in-person at W.H. Gates Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (currently all seats filled)
Register Now! (Only if seeking CLE credits; otherwise just access the links)
Panelists and speakers include:
- Jess Bravin, Wall Street Journal Supreme Court Correspondent
- Thomas B. Griffith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (ret.)
- Paul W. Grimm, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (ret.), Duke Law School
- Judge Robert Harlan Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (ret.), UW School of Law Jurist-in-Residence
- J. Michael Luttig, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (ret.)
- Kimberly J. Mueller, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (ret.), Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law
- Shira Scheindlin, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (ret.)
- Debra L. Stephens, Chief Justice, Washington State Supreme Court
- Seth P. Waxman, U.S. Solicitor General, 1997–2001
- Mark L. Wolf, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (ret.)
- Diane P. Wood, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (ret.)
- Note: All federal “Judge” participants are former or retired from their positions.
Convened By:
Sponsored By:
In Partnership With:
- Barer Institute for Leadership in Law and Global Development, University of Washington School of Law
- Bolch Judicial Institute, Duke Law
- Keep Our Republic
- Society for the Rule of Law
- Task Force for American Democracy.
Friends:
- James & Marlene Fletcher
- Barbara A. Lawson
- Judge Robert Harlan Henry
- Dr. Jan Ralls Henry.
- Washington State: approved by the WSBA for 10.75 CLE credits (10 Law & Legal, .75 Ethics)
- Other Jurisdictions: You may be able to self-apply for credit depending on local rules.

