Professor Anil Kalhan is encouraging Kline students to attend the five-part forum on the rule of law hosted by the New York City Bar Task Force on the Rule of Law. The forum, which runs from September 15 to November 18, will feature a variety of experts from across the political spectrum who will address various threats facing the rule of law in the U.S.

Kalhan, who has been involved with the New York City Bar for many years and has served on the Task Force, said that the series is especially relevant to law students and legal professionals because these individuals “play a very significant role in promoting and protecting rule of law values in society.” The series can also be complementary to law school curricula, as “law schools don’t always focus a lot of attention on the rule of law and rule or law values and the role that lawyers can play and must play to ensure that those values are protected and promoted,” according to Kalhan.

The Rule of Law taskforce emerged from a predecessor task force focused on national security which was created in the wake of 9/11. The Task Force shifted focus toward the rule of law as issues surrounding the rule of law became increasingly relevant in the current political climate.

The forum is a “great opportunity for students to engage in issues that are fundamental to their role as members of the legal profession at a time when those issues are really salient,” said Kalhan.

Upcoming Events:

• (Webcast) Rule of Law Forum – Preserving the Rule of Law in an Age of Disruption Session 1: Threats to the Rule of Law in America: A Survey (September 15, 2020)
• (Webcast) Rule of Law Forum – Preserving the Rule of Law in an Age of Disruption Session 2: Checks, Balances and Oversight – the Distribution of Governmental Power and Information (September 22, 2020)
• (Webcast) Rule of Law Forum – Preserving the Rule of Law in an Age of Disruption Session 3: Interference with Judicial Independence and Local Law Enforcement (October 08, 2020)
• (Webcast) Rule of Law Forum – Preserving the Rule of Law in an Age of Disruption Session 4: Threats to Individual and Societal Rights (October 21, 2020)
• (Webcast) Rule of Law Forum – Preserving the Rule of Law in an Age of Disruption Session 5: Rebuilding the Rule of Law in America: What Can and Should the Legal Profession, Individual Lawyers and Citizens Do? (November 18, 2020)