Rodel Judicial Fellowship

A unique forum for leading federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law.

Rodel Judicial Fellowship

Strengthening America’s democracy cannot occur without a concerted focus on all three branches of government. A strong and independent judiciary forms the bedrock of American democracy. While fundamental, its continued existence (and that of our democratic system itself) cannot be assumed. The politicized judicial selection process, vocal jurisprudential disagreements in high profile cases, and acrimonious third-party rhetoric have created the appearance of a more fractured, more political, and less collegial judiciary.

The Rodel Judicial Fellowship is designed to reverse these trends. The goals of the Rodel Judicial Fellowship are simple but profound. We strive to give our Judicial Fellows:

New perspectives on the role of the judiciary in our democracy;

An opportunity to discuss and reflect upon our jurisprudential heritage;

Close personal connections with jurists of diverse backgrounds and beliefs; and

An immersion in comparative and international perspectives on judging and the rule of law.

The seminars combine reading-based discussions led by distinguished lawyers and law professors with workshops focused on leadership and the challenges of judicial work. Rodel Judicial Fellows read classical legal texts on American democracy from varying perspectives. The discussions are candid and confidential, allowing participants to fully examine their own ideas and explore those of their colleagues.

For more information, please contact Jeff King.

Majestic Maroon Bells peaks and Maroon Lake on a sunny day and blue sky in summer near Aspen, Colorado

OUR FELLOWs

Class of 2022

Leslie Abrams Gardner

Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

Roy K. Altman

Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Shannon Bacon

Chief Justice, New Mexico Supreme Court

John Cannon Few

Justice, South Carolina Supreme Court

J. Michelle Childs

Judge, United States District Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit

John D. Couriel

Justice, Florida Supreme Court

Toby Crouse

Judge, United States District Court for the District of Kansas

Anita Earls

Justice, North Carolina State Supreme Court

Chris Garrett

Justice, Oregon Supreme Court

Dolly M. Gee

Judge, United States District Court for the Central District of California

David Hale

Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

Steve Higginson

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

Rebeca Huddle

Justice, Texas Supreme Court

Karin Immergut

Judge, United States District Court for the District of Oregon

Eric Komitee

Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Gabriel Sanchez

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Patrick Wyrick

Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma