Lawrence, Kan. — The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics in partnership with the Washburn University School of Law announced the return of The Counselors program, a riveting event that combines the rigor of a mock trial with the intellectual sparring of a debate. This year’s program, "Resolved: Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court should be appointed for a single, fixed 18-year term rather than a lifetime appointment," will tackle the timely and pressing issue of whether or not to implement term limits for Supreme Court justices.
The Dole Institute has presented The Counselors for many years. Beginning in Spring 2022, attorneys Ed Duckers and Pedro Irigonegaray mentored Dole Institute Student Advisory Board members to conduct research and cross-examine expert witnesses. This year, the Institute is continuing the tradition of student involvement in the program with the addition of two students from the Washburn University School of Law.
"We're excited to continue the tradition of The Counselors program and to provide a platform for rigorous debate and analysis," said Audrey Coleman, Director of the Dole Institute of Politics. "This season's topic is especially relevant as discussions on Supreme Court reform continue to evolve."
On April 23, SAB members and Washburn University School of Law students will join Duckers and Irigonegaray, and expert witnesses for The Counselors program. The program will be moderated by Braiden Bangalan, SAB member and Discussion Group Coordinator, majoring in global and international studies, political science, and data science.
The affirmative side will be led by Irigonegaray, a veteran trial lawyer and partner at Irigonegaray, Turney, & Revenaugh. Michael Milov-Cordoba, counsel in the Brennan Center’s Judiciary Program and Lou Mulligan, Dean of UMKC Law School, will serve as expert witnesses. They will be joined by Sarah Vargas, a 2L student at Washburn University School of Law, and Matvey Tabakh and Riley Keiter, both juniors at the University of Kansas and members of the Student Advisory Board.
The negating side will be led by Duckers, a seasoned litigator and partner at Stoel Rives LLP. Stephen McAllister, the E.S. & Tom W. Hampton Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Kansas School of Law, and Shannon Grammel, counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn LLP and former Deputy Solicitor General, will serve as expert witnesses. Joining them will be Caitlin Riffer, a 3L student at Washburn University School of Law and former Student Advisory Board member, as well as Nathan Binshtok and Jaspreet Kaur, freshmen at the University of Kansas and members of the Student Advisory Board.
The event is open to the public and will take place at the Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas campus.
More information can be found on the Institute’s website, doleinstitute.org.
-30-
For further information, contact:
Karli Davis, Director of Marketing Communications
Washburn University School of Law
Telephone: (785) 670-2013
Email: karli.davis@washburn.edu
