Judicial independence, hailed as a hallmark of democracy, has been under scrutiny throughout the West. In France, a magistrates union openly expressed its hostility toward the National Rally, a far-right party led by former presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who has been charged with embezzlement. Under former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, some argued the high court overstepped its authority when it ruled against a deportation policy. In addition, multiple U.S. federal judges have issued rulings restricting the policies of President Donald Trump, leading him to condemn them as “activist” judges and openly advocate that some be impeached. Have judges taken politics into their own hands, or are more nuanced factors at play? Are the courts too slow to fix abuses of power? Should U.S. states appoint, rather than elect, their top judges? How should the global community preserve judicial integrity and influence?
This event is co-sponsored by the Free Speech Project (Georgetown University) and the Future of the Humanities Project (Georgetown University and Blackfriars Hall and Campion Hall, Oxford).
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Thomas Berry directs the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies and serves as editor-in-chief of the Cato Supreme Court Review. He previously worked as an attorney at the Pacific Legal Foundation and clerked for Judge E. Grady Jolly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, a nominee of former President Ronald Reagan. His areas of interest include the separation of powers, executive branch appointments, and freedom of speech.
Baroness Mary Goudie, a Labour member of the British House of Lords, advocates for women's and children's rights, gender equality, and peacebuilding. She serves as an advisor to the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and sits on the advisory board of the London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Additionally, she is a member of the advisory board of the Women’s Forum, a platform dedicated to amplifying women's voices on global issues.
Floyd Graham is the principal and chief executive officer of FG Solicitors, an award-winning U.K. law firm he founded in 2007. He acts as legal counsel for mid-sized to large corporations and offers regular commentary on trends in judicial thinking and legal developments. Previously, he practiced at several national law firms. Graham has lectured on the English legal system, constitutional and administrative law, company law, and banking law.
Michael Scott (moderator), senior dean, fellow of Blackfriars Hall, Oxford, college adviser for postgraduate students, and a member of the Las Casas Institute. He also serves as senior adviser to the president of Georgetown University. Scott previously was the pro-vice-chancellor at De Montfort University and founding vice-chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University.
Sanford J. Ungar (moderator), president emeritus of Goucher College, is director of the Free Speech Project at Georgetown University, which documents challenges to free expression in American education, government, and civil society. Director of the Voice of America under President Bill Clinton, he was also dean of the American University School of Communication and is a former co-host of "All Things Considered" on NPR.