Rodel Judicial Fellowship

A unique forum for leading federal judges and state supreme court justices to discuss democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law.

Rodel Judicial Fellowship

Strengthening America’s democracy cannot occur without a concerted focus on all three branches of government. A strong and independent judiciary forms the bedrock of American democracy. While fundamental, its continued existence (and that of our democratic system itself) cannot be assumed. The politicized judicial selection process, vocal jurisprudential disagreements in high profile cases, and acrimonious third-party rhetoric have created the appearance of a more fractured, more political, and less collegial judiciary.

The Rodel Judicial Fellowship is designed to reverse these trends. The goals of the Rodel Judicial Fellowship are simple but profound. We strive to give our Judicial Fellows:

New perspectives on the role of the judiciary in our democracy;
An opportunity to discuss and reflect upon our jurisprudential heritage;
Close personal connections with jurists of diverse backgrounds and beliefs; and
An immersion in comparative and international perspectives on judging and the rule of law.

The seminars combine reading-based discussions led by distinguished lawyers and law professors with workshops focused on leadership and the challenges of judicial work. Rodel Judicial Fellows read classical legal texts on American democracy from varying perspectives. The discussions are candid and confidential, allowing participants to fully examine their own ideas and explore those of their colleagues.

For more information, please contact Jeff King.

OUR FELLOWs

Class of 2024

Madeline Arleo

Judge, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Jane Bland

Justice, Texas Supreme Court

James Boasberg

Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Elizabeth Branch

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit

Sarah Campbell

Justice, Tennessee Supreme Court

Valerie Caproni

Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Joel Carson

Judge, United States District Court for the Court of New Mexico

John Chun

Judge, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

Elizabeth Clement

Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court

Matthew Fader

Chief Justice, Maryland Supreme Court

John Freudenberg

Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court

Anthony Johnstone

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Erin Lynch-Prata

Justice, Rhode Island Supreme Court

Benita Pearson

Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Robert Shelby

Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Utah

Raag Singhal

Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Amul Thapar

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

Holly Thomas

Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit

Staci Yandle

Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Title and affiliation reflect position at time of selection to the Rodel Judicial Fellowship.

Latest News

Edwards Book Award

2024 Edwards Book Award Longlist Announced

The Rodel Institute is delighted to announce the longlist finalists for its 2024 Edwards Book Award. The Edwards Book Award is an annual prize recognizing books that make an outstanding contribution to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics. The prize carries an honorarium of $10,000. The winning book is chosen by a committee that includes past Rodel Fellows, external academic advisors, and Rodel Institute staff. This year’s award committee is comprised of Rodel Felllows Larry Obhof (former OH Senate President), Mike Signer (former Charlottesville, VA Mayor), Miguel Solis (former Dallas School Board Member), and Jamie Woodson (former TN State…

Rodel Fellowship 2023 Reunion

More than 100 Rodel Fellows, representing 39 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, gathered in Washington, D.C. in October 2023 for a weekend of workshops, group discussions, plenary sessions, and informal networking. The weekend kicked off with the presentation of Rodel’s inaugural Edwards Book Award to Dr. Francis Fukuyama for his 2022 book Liberalism and Its Discontents published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. Lizzy McCourt Noonan, the executive director of Rodel’s Edwards Book Award, moderated a conversation with Dr. Fukuyama about liberal democracy, classical liberalism, and growing authoritarianism around the globe. The next morning began with breakout discussions on…

Liberalism and Its Discontents by Francis Fukuyama Wins Inaugural Edwards Book Award

The Rodel Institute is pleased to announce that Francis Fukuyama’s book Liberalism and Its Discontents has won the inaugural Edwards Book Award. The prize was conferred on October 13, 2023 at the Rodel Institute’s Fellowship Reunion in Washington, D.C., where Dr. Fukuyama gave the keynote address to 140 Rodel Fellows and guests. The Edwards Book Award is given annually to a book that contributes to the understanding and practice of democracy and American politics. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 2022, Liberalism and Its Discontents offers a compelling defense of classical liberalism and liberal democracy in the face of growing authoritarianism around the globe. Over the past…