Protecting An Impartial Judiciary

Q: What is the symposium?

A: We’ve all seen the threats to the judiciary – the physical threats, the verbal threats, there is a social media disinformation campaign around judges and court decisions. The idea is to bring people together who are not only involved in the system, but care deeply about it for the purpose of protecting it and defending it.

Q: What impact does our [Robins Kaplan’s] role create?

A: So, Robins Kaplan is a firm that has been in existence for almost 85 years. Next year will be our 85th anniversary. We’ve represented every segment of society in those years. We care deeply about the system; we care deeply about access to justice. For Robins Kaplan to be involved in the symposium is actually a perfect fit.

Q: Why should current law clerks care about the symposium?

A: If you are in a judicial clerkship, that tells me you already care about the system. You care about judges, you care about fairness, and you care about impartiality. This symposium is intended to protect those very important ideas.

Q: Why are you passionate about protecting an impartial judiciary?

A: I’ve spent 45+ years working in the system. I care about fairness, I care about facts, I care about the rule of law, and I care about access to justice for the weak, the powerful, the strong, the rich, the poor – everybody should have access to our court system. It is the crown jewel of our system of government.

Q: Why is this symposium starting now?

A: A lot of attacks is the short of it. Social media has changed the game. Everybody can get on social media and pretty much say anything about anybody with impunity. There is a survey that is conducted every year of about 1,500 judges, state, and federal judges. Those judges have responded in the last year by saying 90% of them feel threats to them personally and their families from the decisions they are called upon to make. That is not an atmosphere that we want our judging to be done in.

Q: What can you tell us about the speakers at the symposium?

A: You can’t overuse the word luminary. I mean, we have luminaries from the academic world, we have people from the media, lawyers, judges, we have five chief justices of state courts. We have federal judges coming. Our keynote address will be delivered by Senator Doug Jones of Alabama.

Q: How will the subject of diversity be integrated into the symposium?

A: In two ways, really. We are very sensitive and thoughtful about the people we invited to be on our panels. We have 40 different speakers, and we have carefully selected people that represent all of the communities in this country through the speakers and panelists that we have – that’s one thing. The second is, we have an entire segment of the symposium that is about racial justice in the courts and that is going to be one of the pillars in the discussion we have on May 26th.

Q: We’ve heard about a special guest from the Ukraine – is that happening?

A: Yes, it is! For those of us involved in the system, this is very real, these threats are very real, but to really drive the point home we’ve invited a member of the supreme court of Ukraine to be with us. She is in exile from her country. She is in Romania on her way to the United States and she will be with us in Chicago.

Q: When and where is the Symposium?

A: The symposium will be held on May 26th, 2022 at the Old Post Office building in Chicago. There will also be a reception, the night before, at the Fairmont Hotel.