When: Wednesday, October 3, 2018 9:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m.
Where: The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
What:
Rule of law in the United States—long the envy of countries around the globe—has become a hotly contested issue on both sides of the political aisle. Recent developments, including with respect to the leadership of the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court nomination process have heightened the stakes. The fair application of the law by independent, executive-branch law enforcement agencies and by the judiciary, overseen by Congress, has served as an historical guarantor of U.S. democracy. But in today’s volatile climate, we are faced with a host of difficult questions about what comes next as we strive to maintain the balance between independence and accountability and to enforce our laws.
On October 3, Governance Studies at Brookings will host a half-day event on the rule of law, featuring three bipartisan panels of prominent experts. The first panel will discuss the role of national security and law enforcement, while the second will focus on government oversight, and the third will broadly explore the rule of law and the strength of this crucial pillar of democracy. Between panels, Preet Bharara and Ken Starr will provide their thoughts in interviews conducted by Norman Eisen and Benjamin Wittes, respectively.
After each panel, speakers will take audience questions. This event will be webcast live. You can also follow the conversation on Twitter using #RuleofLaw.