Supreme Court

24 students, a Supreme Court Justice, and national security experts walk into a piazza…

Mariam Aburdeineh — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 16:28:52 +0000

24 students, a Supreme Court Justice, and national security experts walk into a piazza… Mariam Aburdeineh Tue, 01/17/2023 - 11:28

In This Story

Jamil N. Jaffer

Study-abroad trip features Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and national security experts

Over the summer, 24 students from ��ӽ紫ý’s Antonin Scalia Law School delved deep into issues of constitutional law, separation of powers, and national security in Padua, Italy—a place of inspiration for many of these ideals. The two-week study-abroad trip was co-taught by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and National Security Institute Founder and Executive Director Jamil Jaffer.

“You get a real opportunity to bond, interact and debate these hard issues,” said Jaffer, who has co-led this trip with Supreme Court justices for five years, three of which have been in Padua. “It creates a really unique experience for the students, but also for our guests who come to engage with the students—not just in a sort of panel discussion, but in a place where you really have nothing else to do but chat with the students and talk about these issues.”

A group photo from the last day of class with law students, program leadership and guest speakers. From left to right: Jamil Jaffer; Karen Gibson, Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; Omario Kanji, NSI's Director of International Programs; and Justice Neil Gorsuch. Photo provided.

Learning from the Experts

The trip comprises of two classes: one with Justice Gorsuch on separation of powers, and the other with Jaffer on applied separation of powers, exploring conflicts between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government on issues of national security.

Patrick Madrid, a third-year student and active duty major in the U.S. Marine Corps, found both classes enlightening. Having been with the Marines for more than 12 years, he said he learned about inter-branch conflicts that affected operations he participated in.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Madrid said, “just to have the opportunity to take classes with Professor Jaffer, who’s awesome and has a great and extensive background, and of course with Justice Gorsuch, and have the opportunity to discuss cases he had written on and get a more in-depth understanding of his judicial philosophy.”

Students also engaged with a bipartisan group of federal judges and national security practitioners including Judge Jeffrey Sutton, Judge Joan Larsen, former National Security Agency Deputy Director Richard Ledgett and former Director of Intelligence for United States Central Command Karen Gibson.

“It was very enriching to hear how each of the speakers described their role in the government and what they believe the future holds for the nation,” said second-year law student Thyme Hawkins. “As I begin my legal career, it’s great to know that I can fit in somewhere and have a positive impact as long as I take the initiative to do so.”

“This trip has also helped encourage me to think critically about issues raised at the highest level of government or in our nation’s highest court,” Hawkins added. “I think being willing to consider our nation’s most important questions will help me professionally and personally deal with any questions that may come before me.”

Student Kaitlin Groundwater listening and taking notes during Jamil Jaffer's class. Photo provided.

Inspiring Future Leaders

In addition to intensive course work and readings, building connections was paramount.

“What I liked the most… was how many chances we had to connect with our law school peers and with Justice Gorsuch and Professor Jaffer,” Hawkins said. “That aspect of the trip was quite refreshing since the legal field is ultimately a form of service for others, so fostering camaraderie and professional relationships are integral.”

Jaffer, who previously clerked for Justice Gorsuch, said the trip also allows students to talk with guest speakers about their careers and how they got where they are today. He said he hopes students take away that the opportunities they see in front of them are accessible.

“I’m living proof that you can be a law student who wants to get into national security and achieve it,” Jaffer said. “My parents grew up in Tanzania. I’m Muslim. But I worked in national security in the Bush administration.”

“Whether you’re a woman or a man, or you come from a minority background, or your parents didn’t come from this country,” Jaffer said, “I want [students] to walk away thinking, ‘I could do that, too.’”

To learn more about Mason’s National Security Institute and their future study-abroad opportunities, visit nationalsecurity.gmu.edu.

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study abroad

National Security

National Security Institute

Antonin Scalia Law School

Podcast - EP 40: Cori Bush: Action must be the reaction

Damian Cristodero — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:07:09 +0000

Podcast - EP 40: Cori Bush: Action must be the reaction Damian Cristodero Wed, 06/15/2022 - 12:07

In This Story

Gregory Washington

Rep. Cori Bush, Missouri's first Black congresswoman, talks to ��ӽ紫ý President Gregory Washington about the importance of the class she is teaching this summer at Mason. A pastor, teacher, nurse, and a Black Lives Matter activist in Ferguson, Mo., Bush explains her unusual path to Congress, and doesn’t flinch when discussing issues surrounding race and policing.

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podcast

Access to Excellence podcast

Podcast Episode

Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution

Police and Public Safety

Race

Retirement watch for Justice Breyer should begin again next spring, says Mason expert

Colleen Rich — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 15:06:22 +0000

Retirement watch for Justice Breyer should begin again next spring, says Mason expert Colleen Rich Fri, 07/16/2021 - 11:06

Ilya Somin

While U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is unlikely to retire this year, he will probably be seriously considering doing so next spring, said Ilya Somin, professor of law at ��ӽ紫ý’s Antonin Scalia Law School.

Had Breyer intended to retire anytime soon, he would have likely made a retirement announcement before or around the end of the Supreme Court’s spring term, said Somin.

“We are past the time when historically justices who are going to retire have announced their retirement,” said Somin. “Unless he has some sort of serious health issue or other unexpected event that requires him to retire earlier than he wanted, Justice Breyer is staying on the Supreme Court until at least next year.”

Breyer’s impending retirement was the subject of speculation among Supreme Court observers this year. Breyer, who turns 83 on Aug. 15, has thus far ignored calls by Democrats for his resignation and has hired his law clerks for the fall term, an indication he plans to stay on the court for the near future.

However, said Somin, Breyer is likely to reexamine his intention to stay on the Supreme Court at the end of the 2022 spring term.

“I think Justice Breyer is highly likely to retire next year, especially if he thinks that there are going to be close elections for the Senate that November,” said Somin. “Democrats only have the Senate by a slim majority, and that could change in 2022. If Justice Breyer announces his retirement next spring, that gives President Biden more than enough time to announce a replacement and get someone through the Senate before the November election.”

Somin said that, as an octogenarian, Breyer is likely aware that if he waits too long, he could be replaced by a conservative justice, as happened when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in 2020.

Somin added that Democrats will likely increase their pressure on Breyer to retire by next spring.

“It’s not that Democrats dislike Justice Breyer,” said Somin. “They respect him, but they would rather be assured of having a much younger person with similar views to replace him.”

Somin’s research focuses on constitutional law, property law, democratic theory, federalism, and migration rights. He is the author of “Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration, and Political Freedom," "Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government Is Smarter” and "The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain." His work has appeared in numerous scholarly journals, including the Yale Law Journal, Stanford Law Review, Northwestern University Law Review and others. Somin has also published articles in a variety of popular press outlets, including the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

To reach Ilya Somin directly, please contact him at isomin@gmu.edu

For more information, contact Anna Stolley Persky at apersky@gmu.edu

About ��ӽ紫ý
��ӽ紫ý is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. Learn more at gmu.edu.

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Antonin Scalia Law School

Supreme Court

Mason professor says rushed Supreme Court justice confirmation could lead to packed court

Colleen Rich — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:00:07 +0000

Mason professor says rushed Supreme Court justice confirmation could lead to packed court Colleen Rich Thu, 10/01/2020 - 05:00

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Supreme Court

Antonin Scalia Law School

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