Meeting the Moment - Focus on the Rule of Law - June 26, 2025

In service to our mission at the Philadelphia Bar Association and as legal professionals, we are using our power, influence, and voice to meet this moment in support of democracy and the rule of law. We continue our series on topics affecting our clients and the community, this time focusing on the rule of law. We provide an overview of efforts to protect judicial and attorney independence and what the Association is doing to support this important work. Introduction: ➡️ Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari Opening remarks: ➡️ William R. “Bill” Bay, President, American Bar Association Keynote Speaker: ➡️ Hon. Theodore A. McKee, former Chief Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Panelists: ➡️ Hon. Cynthia M. Rufe, Senior Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ➡️ Hon. D. Brooks Smith, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania ➡️ Charles Becker, Partner, Kline & Specter, and Vice-Chair, PA Supreme Court Commission on Judicial Independence ➡️ Hayden Johnson, Counsel, Free Expression and Right to Dissent Team, Protect Democracy ➡️ Thomas G. Wilkinson, Member, Cozen O'Connor Moderators: ➡️ Deborah Gross, President and CEO, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts ➡️ Katayun I. Jaffari, Chancellor, Philadelphia Bar Association