Speak Up for Justice, a nonpartisan movement to defend the courts and the rule of law, will feature retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in a rare public appearance during its upcoming global forum. He will be joined by judges from Venezuela, Poland, and South Africa—each of whom has experienced direct threats to judicial independence in their countries.
The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 26, beginning at noon.
Kennedy will open the forum with reflections on his time on the court and the constitutional role of judges in a functioning democracy. He will speak to the foundational importance of an independent judiciary and the urgent need to protect it.
After Kennedy's remarks, the following international judges and U.S. legal advocates will share personal stories from countries where judicial systems have been politicized or stripped of authority:
• Judge Eleazar Javier Saldivia (Venezuela): A former federal judge who lost state protection after sentencing police officers for abuse. Harassed by pro-government militias, he fled to the U.S. and now warns that similar patterns are emerging here.
• Judge Dorota Zabludowska (Poland): A sitting judge in Gdansk who opposed her government's purge of independent judges. She has faced discipline and repression for speaking up, but refuses to stay silent.
• Justice Richard Goldstone (South Africa): Former Justice of the Constitutional Court and Chief Prosecutor for the UN Tribunals on Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. He brings decades of insight on rebuilding legal systems after authoritarian collapse.
• Karen C. Burgess (United States): A past president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a nationally recognized trial attorney. Burgess is a leading voice for legal ethics, judicial independence, and civic responsibility in the U.S. justice system.
Speakers will discuss warning signs now appearing in the U.S., including:
• Threats against prosecutors handling politically sensitive cases
• Retaliation against judges for rulings that uphold the law
• Court orders being ignored or overridden
• A recent federal budget provision attempting to strip district court judges of contempt powers, weakening enforcement of judicial decisions
The forum will be moderated by Speak Up for Justice founder Paul Kiesel, a Los Angeles trial attorney and civic leader. Kiesel has led efforts to organize thousands of legal professionals across the country in support of judicial independence.
To register for the forum, visit https://speakupforjustice.law.
The virtual event will take place on Thursday, June 26, beginning at noon.
Kennedy will open the forum with reflections on his time on the court and the constitutional role of judges in a functioning democracy. He will speak to the foundational importance of an independent judiciary and the urgent need to protect it.
After Kennedy's remarks, the following international judges and U.S. legal advocates will share personal stories from countries where judicial systems have been politicized or stripped of authority:
• Judge Eleazar Javier Saldivia (Venezuela): A former federal judge who lost state protection after sentencing police officers for abuse. Harassed by pro-government militias, he fled to the U.S. and now warns that similar patterns are emerging here.
• Judge Dorota Zabludowska (Poland): A sitting judge in Gdansk who opposed her government's purge of independent judges. She has faced discipline and repression for speaking up, but refuses to stay silent.
• Justice Richard Goldstone (South Africa): Former Justice of the Constitutional Court and Chief Prosecutor for the UN Tribunals on Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. He brings decades of insight on rebuilding legal systems after authoritarian collapse.
• Karen C. Burgess (United States): A past president of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a nationally recognized trial attorney. Burgess is a leading voice for legal ethics, judicial independence, and civic responsibility in the U.S. justice system.
Speakers will discuss warning signs now appearing in the U.S., including:
• Threats against prosecutors handling politically sensitive cases
• Retaliation against judges for rulings that uphold the law
• Court orders being ignored or overridden
• A recent federal budget provision attempting to strip district court judges of contempt powers, weakening enforcement of judicial decisions
The forum will be moderated by Speak Up for Justice founder Paul Kiesel, a Los Angeles trial attorney and civic leader. Kiesel has led efforts to organize thousands of legal professionals across the country in support of judicial independence.
To register for the forum, visit https://speakupforjustice.law.
