Inaugural General Counsels Event Features Presentation from Federal Judges
Oct. 10, 2017
On Oct. 4, the Program on Law & Government at American University Washington College of Law hosted its inaugural AUWCL Federal Government General Counsels Reception. The 70 attendees included current and former federal government general counsel and AUWCL faculty, staff, and students.
The evening began with a networking reception, during which attendees had the opportunity to reunite with old friends and colleagues and meet new friends from across the government and the private sector. The current and former general counsels at the event represented over 20 federal agencies.
Following the reception, Judge Stephen Williams of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Judge Jay Plager of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit participated in a moderated discussion with AUWCL Professor Andy Popper and answered questions from the audience.
In his introductory remarks, Professor Popper explained that the Program on Law & Government hosted this event, “to host and foster objective, substantive, civil, productive, non-partisan dialogue between lawyers.” The Program on Law & Government plans to continue hosting events for Federal Government General Counsels to foster a sense of community among government attorneys.
See Professor Popper’s full introduction below. And for more information about the Program on Law and Government’s many initiatives and upcoming events visit their website.
“We, attorneys and judges, law professors and students, legal assistants and paralegals, federal agencies, NGOs, law firms, and trade associations ... we are the voice of a legal system that promises justice and fairness.”
Professor Andrew F. Popper, in Oct. 4 Welcoming Remarks
Welcome Remarks – Professor Andrew Popper, Ann Loeb Bronfman Distinguished Professor of Law and Government
Oct. 4, 2017 – Federal Government General Counsels Reception
“To say we are honored by the presence of our distinguished discussants and equally honored by the presence of this remarkable audience does not capture the heartfelt appreciation of this community, the American University Washington College of Law.
The political climate in which we find ourselves is at best tumultuous – and that is putting a positive spin on it. However, we are not politicians. I am not saying you don’t have a point of view – everyone in this room does – but we are unified as members of the bar, as lawyers, united in our profession.
Without putting too fine an edge on it, we are the guardians of centuries of a legal heritage that is the backbone and framework for democracy.
We, attorneys and judges, law professors and students, legal assistants and paralegals, federal agencies, NGOs, law firms, and trade associations ... we are the voice of a legal system that promises justice and fairness.
This event has a number of different functions – to re-introduce you to our Program in Law & Government, now approaching the quarter century mark, to remind you of our long-term relationship with the ABA expressed in our own 20 year run as the publisher of the ABA’s Administrative Law Review, to re-introduce you to our law school’s novel and exciting integrated curriculum program, and to have you meet some of our wonderful students who, like you, come from every conceivable political stripe.
However, this program is about more than that. This is about our hope – and as a law school, our mission – is to foster discourse that is objective, substantive, civil, productive, and non-partisan. This is a time when our professional community has the chance to stand unified in a commitment to the Constitution, the rule of law, fundamental justice, good governance, and strong and thoughtful representation of every conceivable interest. We can and should set that example.
It is our great hope that as protectors of our legal heritage, you would find these few hours a valuable and pleasant affirmation of the professional belief structure we share.”
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