March 2025 eBulletin Now Available

Dear Fellows:

The Board of Regents and Past Presidents of the College convened recently to discuss an array of executive actions undertaken by the Trump Administration since the inauguration. In response to some of those executive actions, many of you have sent emails urging the College to speak out more forcefully in defense of the rule of law and an independent judiciary. Likewise, some have emailed to criticize statements the College has issued and to urge that we remain “apolitical.” When we have spoken, it has been because, in our judgment — whether that of the Executive Committee or the full Board — the statements and actions being called into question, in fact, undermine the rule of law or unfairly attack judicial independence. Such statements are not issued lightly or without deliberation. We do not look for opportunities to issue statements. Immediate Past President William Murphy discussed the process by which the College issues statements in his Journal article last year. I urge you to review that article; the process discussed there has not changed. Immediate Past President Murphy noted that virtually all such statements are the result of unanimous consensus among the Judicial Independence Committee, the Executive Committee, and often, the full Board.

In a survey to all Fellows in 2024, prior to the recent election and change in administrations, Fellows overwhelmingly identified the protection of judicial independence and the rule of law as the area in which the College should take action to advance our mission. The most recent Board meeting, in which many of our Past Presidents participated, reaffirmed the findings from the survey. The challenge, however, comes in trying to discern the best way to give effect to that commitment in what we hope is a fair and balanced way. When we believe it is warranted — we are honor-bound to speak out. Some will think we have done too much, others, not nearly enough. But when we disagree, I can only hope that the grace inherent in our commitment to collegiality will sustain our Fellowship.

Richard H. Deane, Jr.
President

To read more from the March 2025 eBulletin, click here.