ACS Bay Area: Fair Courts- The Threat to Judicial Independence in Polarized Time

Join the ACS Bay Area Lawyer Chapter, the Bay Area Democracy Funders, the Legal Services Funders Network, and the California ChangeLawyers for a discussion with experts about the importance of, and current threats to, judicial independence.

Judicial independence may be the most consequential — though least visible and discussed — long-term threat to a well-functioning American democracy. The partisan political climate in the U.S. has emboldened lawmakers to undermine the role of an independent judiciary by mounting unprecedented assaults at the state and federal levels.

The damage has spread to at least 22 states which have considered legislation that would diminish the role or independence of the courts, according to the latest annual report from the Brennan Center.

Our panelists will answer questions such as:

·      What’s at stake and what are the underlying causes?

·      Can it happen here or has it already?

·      How are groups across the country successfully pushing back against these assaults?

·      How can philanthropy respond to ensure fair courts in California and other states?

Featuring:

Alicia Bannon, Managing Director, Brennan Center's Democracy Program

Kathy Bonnifield, Program Officer, Piper Fund

Evan Gates, Executive Director, Kansas Values Institute

Bertrall Ross, Chancellor's Professor, UC Berkeley School of Law

A reception, hosted by the Bay Area Democracy Funders, will immediately follow this program. Light food and drinks will be provided. 

You can read more about the event here. Please reach out to LCemails@acslaw.org for information on how to register.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. PT

Northern California Grantmakers

160 Spear Street, Suite 360

San Francisco, CA 94105