Georgetown Law’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law Hosts Inaugural “Supreme Court Term in Review” Event
July 15, 2024
L-R: Prof. Michele Goodwin, Mark Joseph Stern, Moira Donegan, Jamelle Bouie, Madiba Dennie and Chris Geidner.
As the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the final decisions of its 2023-2024 term — including a controversial ruling in Trump v. United States that significantly bolsters presidential power — Georgetown Law's O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law gathered leading legal advocates and journalists for its inaugural "Supreme Court Term in Review" roundtable on July 1. Before an audience of more than 600 in-person and virtual attendees, the panel engaged in a lively discussion of the high court's far-reaching decisions on matters including free speech, reproductive rights, the power of federal agencies and presidential immunity.
Moderator and O’Neill Institute co-faculty director Professor Michele Goodwin was joined by Mark Joseph Stern, C’13, L’16, of Slate, Moira Donegan of The Guardian, Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times, Madiba Dennie of Balls and Strikes and Chris Geidner of Law Dork to discuss the significance and implications of the court’s recent rulings.
“What a term it has been,” said Goodwin as she introduced the other members of the panel. Moving quickly through a long list of hot-button cases, the speakers expressed concern about Trump v. United States and other rulings, referring often to historical events and other recent appellate and Supreme Court rulings to contextualize why so many experts consider this term’s decisions controversial.
“These are cases that we will be analyzing for years to come,” Goodwin said. “My hope is that everyone takes the time to understand the ramifications of these rulings. I am also thankful to all of the panelists who devoted their time and expertise to this discussion and who carry out their work with courage, diligence and integrity.”
The event featured a book signing and was sponsored by Ms. Magazine, Ms. Studios and the Feminist Majority Foundation.
The Supreme Court roundtable was part of a daylong conference that also included “A Crisis of Health and Democracy: Two Years Post-Dobbs — What’s Next?” Panels of experts and advocates convened throughout the day for a series of conversations addressing the shifting landscape of reproductive rights and health law following the Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
Click here to view a full recording of the “Supreme Court Term in Review” discussion and other panels, as recorded by C-SPAN. Click here to read a 2023-2024 Supreme Court case summary guide prepared by the O’Neill Institute for participants.