Overview (Program Summary)
ACC is pleased to host this webinar featuring three distinguished former federal judges from the Article III Coalition, a non-partisan civic education initiative of Keep Our Republic. The Coalition—composed of 52 former U.S. District and Circuit Court judges appointed in equal measure by Republican and Democratic presidents—is dedicated to strengthening public understanding of the rule of law and the essential role of an independent judiciary.
This session will explore why judicial independence is critical not only to American democracy, but also to the stability and predictability of our economy—and therefore central to the work of in-house counsel as they navigate risk, compliance, and long-term business planning. The judges joining us are:
- Judge Robert Cindrich, a former U.S. District Judge appointed by President Clinton, who brings a distinctive blend of judicial, corporate, and government experience, having served as General Counsel of U.S. Steel and UPMC and on the boards of Mylan and Allscripts Healthcare.
- Judge Allyson Duncan, appointed by President George W. Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, who previously served as a law professor, law firm partner, Chief of Staff of the EEOC, the first African American President of the North Carolina Bar Association, and a North Carolina state court judge.
- Judge Deanell Reece Tacha, appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and later serving as its Chief Judge, who also served as Vice Chancellor and Professor of Law at the University of Kansas and as Dean of Pepperdine Law, and is a recipient of both the Devitt Award and the ABA John Marshall Award for distinguished service.
The judges will discuss the real-world consequences for businesses when court orders are ignored, when the rule of law is weakened, or when judges face intimidation or coercion—and why these issues should matter deeply to every legal department. The discussion will be moderated by Justin Connor, Director of Global Chief Legal Officer Engagement, ACC.