In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower designated May 1
st as ‘Law Day’—a day to honor the United States’ unwavering commitment to the rule of law. Now, over 60 years later, it has become apparent that foreign adversaries, have grown adept at launching disinformation campaigns aimed at eroding public confidence in the justice system and other institutions tasked with upholding the rule of law. How can democracies prevent, withstand, and counter these constantly evolving attacks?
The Defending Democratic Institutions (DDI) project, in collaboration with the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security, invites you to join us this Law Day for the launch of our newest report
Beyond the Ballot: How the Kremlin Works to Undermine the U.S. Justice System. This report explores the ways in which Russia has used disinformation to weaken democracies, and will shine a light on how these attacks, and potentially attacks by others, uniquely threaten public trust in institutions of justice in the United States.
Following an introductory report presentation by DDI Director,
Suzanne Spaulding, an expert panel will discuss the current threat landscape confronting democracies, including cyber and cyber-enabled disinformation operations that aim to undermine democratic institutions. A second panel will then discuss the implications of these threats, and will advance whole-of-nation recommendations for growing societal and system resilience against these threats. The program will conclude with a keynote address delivered by former Department of Homeland Security Secretary,
Michael Chertoff.
AGENDA:
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Beyond the Ballot: How the Kremlin Works to Undermine the U.S. Justice System (Report)
Suzanne Spaulding, Director of the Defending Democratic Institutions Project; Former Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Panel 1: Understanding the Threat Landscape
Lara Flint, Director of the Governance Program at Democracy Fund
Seth Jones, Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project at CSIS
Sujit Raman, Associate Deputy Attorney General
Suzanne Spaulding, Director of the Defending Democratic Institutions Project at CSIS
Harvey Rishikof (moderator), Advisory Board Chairman for the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Panel 2: Building Societal and Institutional Resilience
Judge Jeremy Fogel, Executive Director, Berkeley Judicial Institute; Former U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California
Ted McConnell, Executive Director for the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools
Mary McQueen, President of the National Center for State Courts
Jeffrey Minear, Counselor to the Chief Justice of the United States
Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker (moderator), Dean Emerita, McGeorge School of Law; Former Executive Director for The State Bar of California
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Keynote Address
Michael Chertoff, Former Secretary of Homeland Security
The Defending Democratic Institutions project is made possible through the generous donations of Democracy Fund and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.