Recently, a panel of esteemed judges spoke at the annual William & Mary Law School. Among them were David R. Stras, of the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, Stephanos Bibas of the Third Circuit, Robin S. Rosenbaum of the Eleventh Circuit, and Toby J. Heytens of the Fourth Circuit.
The judges discussed the challenges of adjudicating cases while maintaining a sense of collegiality, a task that is not always easy due to the often contentious nature of the cases and the disagreements they can engender. Stras noted that wearing a judicial robe often means deciding such cases with the same colleagues year after year. He underscored the importance of the maxim “we can disagree without being disagreeable” in enabling successful adjudication amid potential disagreements.
Bibas, Rosenbaum, and Heytens echoed Stras’s sentiments, agreeing on the necessity of maintaining civil and respectful discourse even in the face of passionate differing evaluations.
Discourse such as that which took place at William & Mary Law School is crucial in fostering a spirit of mutual respect and understanding among legal professionals and students alike. It’s important to remember that even in disagreements, maintaining a level of respect and willingness to listen to alternative viewpoints is what allows for the functioning of a robust legal system.
For more in-depth coverage, visit the original article at Bloomberg Law.