Counsel Stephen Raiola opened the Federalist Society’s Third Circuit Conference, which was held in Philadelphia on June 21, 2024, by providing welcoming remarks and introducing the first panel on “Threats to Judicial Independence and How the Legal Community Should Respond.” As a part of his remarks, Stephen introduced the Honorable Esther Salas of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Honorable Cheryl Ann Krause of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Honorable Richard J. Sullivan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the moderator of the panel, Craig Carpenito, a partner at King & Spading LLP and the former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey.
Panelists discussed the increasing politicization of attacks on the state and federal judiciary, and the rise in physical threats to judges and courthouses across the country. In addition to encouraging members of the Bar to be leaders in educating the public about the meaning of judicial decisions and the importance of the independence of our courts, Panelists discussed efforts to pass legislation to protect the personal identifying information of state and federal judges, and engage with the public and the media more broadly to facilitate a healthier discourse about the courts.
As Vice President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Federalist Society, Stephen served on the planning committee for the Conference, which, in addition to the individuals listed above, included the Honorable Michael Chagares, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Honorable David James Porter of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Honorable Joshua D. Wolson of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to his role in the Pittsburgh Chapter, Stephen served on the Board of the Federalist Society’s D.C. Young Lawyers Chapter.
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