Judicial Independence - Judging in the Era of Polarized Politics

Please join UPenn Law ACS Student Chapter on March 31, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM ET as we present, Judicial Independence: Judging in the Era of Polarized Politics. Politicization of the judiciary has existed since the days of Marbury v. Madison but has recently become a cause of growing concern across the political spectrum. At the federal level, judges face contentious appointments and pressure to conform to a liberal or conservative mold. At the state level, judges are often chosen through partisan elections yet expected to erase their affiliations and remain non-partisan upon election.

For this panel discussion we are proud to welcome, Professor Catherine Struve, Judge Thomas Ambro (Third Circuit), and Judge Anthony Kyriakakis (Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas) for a talk on how judges navigate this charged environment, and what it means for the future independence of “the least dangerous branch.”