Neither Sword Nor Purse: Defending America’s Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law
"Neither Sword Nor Purse: Defending America’s Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law" was a two-day national symposium held on April 17–18, 2026, at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, Washington. The event was organized by the UW School of Law in partnership with the American College of Trial Lawyers, Keep Our Republic/Article 3 Coalition, the Society for the Rule of Law, and the Task Force for American Democracy.
The symposium convened a distinguished group of retired federal judges, legal scholars, and journalists to examine the rule of law, the foundations of judicial independence, and current challenges facing the judiciary. Inspired by Alexander Hamilton's assertion that the judiciary possesses neither "the sword" nor "the purse," the program focused on the importance of protecting judicial independence from undue interference.
Keynote speakers included former judges such as J. Michael Luttig, Thomas B. Griffith, and Shira Scheindlin, as well as legal experts like Erwin Chemerinsky and Jess Bravin. The symposium addressed topics such as public trust, civic education, and strategies for combating misinformation about the judiciary. Sessions were streamed online, allowing broader access to the discussions.
The event was open to the public, providing an opportunity for legal professionals, scholars, and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue about the challenges to judicial independence and the rule of law. Attendees gained insights into the current state of the judiciary and participated in discussions on preserving its independence.
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Speakers(11)
Debra L. Stephens
Chief Justice at Washington State Supreme Court
Debra L. Stephens is the Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court.
Diane P. Wood
Judge at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (ret.)
Diane P. Wood is a retired judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
J. Michael Luttig
Judge at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (ret.)
J. Michael Luttig is a retired judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Jess Bravin
Supreme Court Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal
Jess Bravin is the Supreme Court Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, covering the U.S. Supreme Court and related legal issues.
Kimberly J. Mueller
Judge at U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (ret.)
Kimberly J. Mueller is a retired judge from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California and is affiliated with the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law.
Mark L. Wolf
Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (ret.)
Mark L. Wolf is a retired judge from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Paul W. Grimm
Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (ret.)
Paul W. Grimm was a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and is now affiliated with Duke Law School.
Robert Harlan Henry
Judge at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (ret.)
Robert Harlan Henry is a retired judge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and serves as the Jurist-in-Residence at UW School of Law.
Seth P. Waxman
Solicitor General at U.S. Solicitor General's Office
Seth P. Waxman served as the U.S. Solicitor General from 1997 to 2001.
Shira Scheindlin
Judge at U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (ret.)
Shira Scheindlin is a retired judge from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Thomas B. Griffith
Judge at U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (ret.)
Thomas B. Griffith served as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit before retiring.
Event Details
- Date
- April 17-18, 2026
- 2 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Seattle, United States
- W.H. Gates Hall, University of Washington School of Law
- Pricing
- Free
- Audience
- Legal professionals, scholars, students, and citizens interested in judicial independence and the rule of law
- CLE Credits
- CLE accreditation pending
- Attendees
- Not specified