The Rule of Law: The Academy Speaks

Academy Fellows Leo Boyle and Larry Stewart recount the days following the September 11 terrorist attacks and how trial lawyers showed up for victims and their families. They share their roles in creating the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and building Trial Lawyers Care into the largest pro bono legal effort in American history. Twenty-five years later, Leo and Larry reflect on what that...

Chief Justices O’Connor and Pariente reflect on two defining moments from their time on the bench: Ohio’s redistricting battles and the Florida recount in Bush v. Gore. Their experiences show what judicial independence looks like when the political stakes are highest, and why lawyers, civic leaders, and citizens must understand, support, and speak up for courts committed to the Rule of Law. For mo...

Judicial independence cannot survive on principle alone. Chief Justices O’Connor and Pariente discuss why courts must do more to explain their role to a public that may never have been taught how the Judicial Branch actually works. They explore how judges and court leaders can communicate clearly, credibly, and without partisanship to strengthen understanding and trust. For more information on the...

Former Chief Justices Maureen O’Connor and Barbara Pariente break down what judicial independence really means, why it matters, and how state and federal courts differ in their roles. At a time when many Americans lack a basic understanding of how the courts work, they make the case for stronger civic education, greater public trust, and a clearer understanding of why an independent judiciary is e...

Maria Laura Arabbo, Executive Director of VECINA, and Dicky Grigg, Academy Fellow and VECINA volunteer attorney, take listeners inside VECINA’s work on complex detention, reunification, and asylum cases, and explore how experienced trial lawyers can help deliver critical legal support to people who might otherwise go without representation. To learn more, visit VECINA.org.

Maria Laura Arabbo, Executive Director of VECINA, a nonprofit expanding access to legal services for asylum seekers in the U.S., and Dicky Grigg, Academy Fellow and VECINA volunteer attorney, explore how VECINA is responding to a rapidly changing immigration landscape through legal consultations, reunification support, and habeas training. To learn more, visit VECINA.org .

Can Justice Be Just if Bias Goes Unchecked? Implicit bias does not stay outside the courtroom. It can influence who is believed, who is charged, who is struck from a jury, and who receives the benefit of the doubt. In this episode, Professor Henson examines how bias moves through the justice system — and whether the system can truly be just if we refuse to confront it.   Uncover implicit bias: tak...

Implicit bias shapes how we see people before we realize we are making a judgment. In this episode, Professor Chuck Henson helps us understand what implicit bias is, how it differs from explicit bias, and why recognizing it is essential to fairness, credibility, and the work of justice. Uncover your on bias: Take the Project Implicit tests   

When does arbitration work, and when does it weaken the Rule of Law? The final episode looks at the lawyer’s duty to advise clients, efforts to protect the jury system, and why trial lawyers must defend open courts, public records, and citizen participation.

Arbitration is often sold as faster and cheaper. But who really wins when serious disputes move behind closed doors? This episode explores forced arbitration, service contracts, companies like Uber, and the public cost of private justice.

What happens if jury trials disappear? Academy Fellows Quentin Brogdon, Kathy Patrick, and Craig Peters examine why juries are not just a court procedure. They are citizen power, public accountability, and a safeguard for equal justice.

In recognition of Juneteenth, Craig Peters sits down with Joe Tucker for a conversation about freedom, equality, and the unfinished work of justice.  As the first Black President in the history of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Joe reflects on his service and shares why Juneteenth remains a powerful reminder that rights on paper mean little without enforcement, vigilance, and civic en...

Season 4 of The Rule of Law: The Academy Speaks kicks off with the Academy’s President-Elect, Craig Peters, and retired Federal Judge Philip Pro, of Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition, discussing National Law Day. In this episode, they explore what Law Day means, why it matters, how each of us can honor it through action, and why defending the Rule of Law feels more urgent now than ever. Ke...

In part two of this special episode, Joe Tucker talks with Michael Coard about his leadership with the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition and the ongoing fight for truthful representation of American history in Philadelphia. That fight has reached the highest levels of government and reflects a larger national struggle over memory, truth, and who gets to define the American story. Michael shares why...

In this special two-part episode, Joe Tucker sits down with fellow lawyer and Philadelphia-based activist Michael Coard to discuss his deep commitment to the Rule of Law, in the courtroom and in his community. Called “the angriest Black man in America,” Michael shares the stories behind some of his most challenging and personal cases, and explains why he believes it is his duty to confront injusti...

In this episode, Joe Tucker continues his conversation with Judges Kathleen O’Malley and Liam O’Grady of Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition. The discussion examines the safeguards of the Rule of Law, including the obligation of judges to set aside personal beliefs and to carefully examine the actions of the Department of Justice. In unprecedented times, the path forward is a return to prece...

In this episode, Joe speaks with retired federal judges Kathleen O’Malley and Liam O’Grady of Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition about judicial independence and its essential role in upholding the Rule of Law during periods of heightened political pressure. They discuss due process, public trust in the courts, and the implications of recent criticism directed at the Supreme Court for decisi...

The news cycle moves fast. Opinions move even faster. Revisit this conversation with Joe Tucker and Anne Bremner on how viral narratives shape public judgment before a trial begins, how open and broadcast court proceedings ground the public in the evidence, and why justice depends on facts first.

In Part Two, Joe Tucker and Keep Our Republic Article III Coalition judges Robert B. Kugler and Robert Cindrich examine the tangible economic and social damage that follows when the Rule of Law is disregarded. From strained business relationships and financial uncertainty to real harm in people's daily lives, they warn that without the assurance of fair, consistent laws, the consequences can be di...

In Part One of this special two-part conversation, Joe Tucker speaks with retired federal judges Robert B. Kugler and Robert Cindrich about the work of Keep Our Republic and its mission to protect American democracy. They explore how an independent judiciary underpins the Rule of Law and why efforts to intimidate and impeach judges are increasingly threatening constitutional governance. Drawing on...

In this special episode, Joe speaks with Alicia Granse of ACLU-Minnesota and Kyle Wislocky of Ciresi Conlin about what they are seeing in Minneapolis, on the streets and in the courts. They discuss how community members are exercising their rights, documenting ICE activity, and standing up for their neighbors, then break down Tincher v. Noem and related cases surrounding violations of the First an...

In this special episode, Joe sits down with Paul Le Vay of Stockwoods LLP in Toronto and Paul Sreenan in Dublin to examine recent U.S. rhetoric around Greenland, sovereignty, truth, and power. They explore how the Trump administration's claims about Greenland are received abroad. Many see it as another test of NATO, the European Union, and long-standing alliances. They also assess what global lead...

Part 2 of this special episode features Randy Smith, President of the Alfred Friendly Press Partners, and investigative journalist Patricia Marcano, who was forced to flee Venezuela after threats for reporting on the Maduro regime. Together, they unpack what's being reported, what may be missing, and why discerning listeners should seek out credible, independent sources. Additional Resources: ⁠⁠Al...

Part one of this special two-part episode brings together esteemed trial lawyers, Joe Tucker, Brian Gover, and Stan Garnett for a clear-eyed look at Venezuela’s crisis and what it signals for the Rule of Law. They unpack how the international community and the legal profession are reading this moment, what is at stake when legal norms become optional. Additional Resources: ⁠Alfred Friendly Press P...

Are you looking for ways to make a difference in 2026? Revisit this episode with Joe Tucker and President of the Arizona State Bar, Ted Schmidt. The pair discuss how small acts, like speaking in a classroom or organizing a local event, can spark broader civic engagement.