Judicial Independence in focus at Widener Law Commonwealth’s 2025 Jurist in Residence Lecture
The critical role of an independent judiciary in upholding democracy took center stage at Widener University Commonwealth Law School’s 2025 jurist in residence lecture.
The event, hosted by the school’s Law and Government Institute, featured an engaging discussion with Jurist in Residence Karoline Mehalchick, U.S. district judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, and Dean andré douglas pond cummings. Mehalchick, the school’s jurist in residence for the current and next academic years, led a panel exploring the topic, “The Role of an Independent Judiciary in Maintaining the Rule of Law.”
Throughout the discussion, the panel emphasized the judiciary’s essential function as a safeguard against political influence and growing challenges surrounding judicial confirmations. Casey, reflecting on his time representing Pennsylvania in the Senate, highlighted the increasing polarization of the confirmation process. “There was a time when judges, regardless of political affiliation, were confirmed with near-unanimous support,” Casey said. “Now, we see a process that is often drawn out and shaped more by partisan agendas than by qualifications.”
Mehalchick echoed these concerns, stressing that a judge’s duty is not to a political party but to the constitution. “The confirmation process is political by design, but our role as judges is to uphold the law impartially,” she said. “Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded when courts are viewed as extensions of political leadership.”
cummings reinforced the importance of maintaining judicial independence, warning against ideological litmus tests for judicial nominees. “A judge should never be viewed as a political ally,” cummings stated. “When partisanship influences nominations, we jeopardize the impartiality that our legal system depends on.”
Issa Dahdal, a third-year law student who serves as secretary of the Law and Government Student Society, introduced Mehalchick, his professor for the government law colloquium course this spring. After the event, he shared his reflections on the event’s themes, noting two key takeaways: “The first was that an independent court system is only as strong as the faith placed on it by the people. If the people lose faith, the courts lose their credibility, and problems will perhaps be solved in other ways.” He further elaborated on the responsibility of lawyers, emphasizing, “A lawyer's duty is to uphold the integrity of justice by challenging unconstitutional statutes and practices, refrain ing from making and correcting statements of falsity, and accepting results when it does not go their way.”
The event also prompted Issa, who will be graduating this May with two specialized certificates from the Law and Government Institute in addition to his juris doctor degree, to reflect on the changing dynamics of the judiciary. “What stood out to me the most was not only the scale that an independent judiciary plays but more so the fact that the country finds itself in a position that it questions the court,” he remarked. “Such a thing wasn't even a question 10 or 15 years ago, or even decades ago. It is astonishing how it all changed so quickly that I think the only questions that can be asked are how did this happen, and can we reverse this thinking?”
The discussion also addressed the consequences of judicial vacancies, with Casey pointing to the increasing delays in confirmations. “Leaving court vacancies unfilled for years is not just an inconvenience—it weakens our judiciary’s ability to function effectively,” he said.
For students in attendance, the conversation provided a deeper understanding of the legal profession’s responsibility in upholding democratic principles.
As part of the Law and Government Institute’s mission, the jurist in residence lecture provides students with direct access to esteemed legal professionals and critical discussions on law and governance. The institute offers specialized certificates in administrative/constitutional law, legislation, and environmental law, giving students a deeper understanding of how the law intersects with public policy.
cummings emphasized the importance of legal education in shaping the next generation of attorneys. “Legal education is not just about teaching the law—it’s about instilling a commitment to justice, ethics, and service,” he said. “Our students will one day be advocates, and understanding the structure and integrity of our judiciary is crucial to their careers.”
The institute’s next event will be the annual John L. Gedid lecture on April 3 at 4:30 p.m., featuring Professor Ronald Levin of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He will be speaking about the Loper Bright case, a significant administrative law decision from last year’s U.S. Supreme Court term.
Registration information can be obtained from [email protected].
