We were excited to return to Puerto Rico for the second seminar of the Judicial Fellowship Class of 2025. It’s rewarding for us to see how each class moves from their first seminar – where participants are new to the Rodel experience and (mostly) to each other – to the second one, where we hope that a greater depth of discussions emerge from mutual trust and understanding.

These hopes were fully realized during our three and a half days in San Juan. The addition of Professor Philip Munoz to our moderating team brought a new life and perspective to conversations about constitutional scholarship. Likewise, Bridget McCormick and Beth Clement added tremendous insight from their times as chief justices of the Michigan Supreme Court that infused new life into discussions on challenges facing the judiciary.

This seminar reminded all of us that a core value of the Rodel experience remains the ability to be away from daily life and ponder deeply with other jurists on important issues facing the profession. The thoughtful discussions, informed by readings meant to highlight participants’ differences and shared beliefs, occurred only because of the mutual respect, curiosity, and open mindedness reflected in the class.

Rodel works best when intellectual rigor and professional excellence combine with authenticity, trust and a commitment to public service. The Class of 2025 brought all of these traits to bear in San Juan and, as a result, we had a fantastic weekend. We remain hopeful that the group will continue to interact and grow further between now and their next and final meeting in England next year.