The twelfth of our bi-annual James Wilson Fellowship classes, co-sponsored again with the Center on Religion, Culture, and Democracy of First Liberty Institute, concluded on Friday, August 9th. We are thrilled to share a brief reflection of the week with you, as a way of celebrating our 2024 Summer class. Having gathered a dedicated cohort of fellows, an esteemed group of scholars, and insightful guest speakers, our 2024 Summer edition exceeded our considerably high expectations.

The 2024 Summer class, comprised of young lawyers and recent law school graduates, was energetic to the last man. Each fellow demonstrated an eagerness to engage during and following our formal seminars. Debates were often intense. Featuring pointed questions from the fellows and insightful responses from our scholars, the conversations frequently carried over into the break and lunch periods.

The Fellowship aims to put in place what we call a lens of Natural Law through which to view American jurisprudence. The Natural Law, and its classic understanding of law and morality as inextricably connected, is neither taught in law school nor cultivated in legal practice. A sample of topics the Fellows discussed include: "The Logic of Natural Rights," "Natural Law & Ordinary Language," and "Retribution & the Morality of Punishment." Fellows indicated their particular appreciation for the practical insights afforded over the course of these seminars.

We were privileged to reconvene our esteemed Faculty, whose dedication to our Nation's founding principles and profound knowledge of the Natural Law continues to inspire, to direct the seminars. All faculty this summer were veterans of previous fellowships.

JWI Co-Directors Hadley Arkes and Gerry Bradley led the majority of the seminar sessions, but we were thrilled to welcome again the irreplaceable contributions of Professor David Forte (Cleveland State Law), Professor Justin Dyer (University of Texas at Austin), Dr. Ryan Anderson (Ethics & Public Policy Center), Professor Daniel Mark (Villanova University), and Dr. Jordan Ballor (Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy).

Special events and guest speakers additionally bolstered discussion periods. We were particularly excited to welcome JWI Alum Tim Bradley ('19), who offered remarks on his time clerking for Justice Amy Coney Barrett and experience as an appellate attorney for Jones Day. While Tim's insights into the world of Supreme Court clerkships and elite firms were met with much interest, it seemed that listeners were quite keen to hear about his childhood conversations around the dinner table with his father, JWI Co-Director Gerry Bradley.

We were also privileged to host Michael Fragoso, Chief Counsel in the Office of the Senate Republican Leader, and Robert Luther, Distinguished Professor of Law at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and former Associate Counsel to the President, who each shared with the fellows their perspectives working on judicial appointments as well as navigating their careers as young lawyers in the not-too-distant past.

While the principal focus of the week is an academically rigorous introduction to the Natural Law, its relevance to American law, and its practical application, fellows are afforded several opportunities to connect with both scholars and peers in more relaxed settings. They are encouraged to grow their professional networks, but, as is often the case, frequently find themselves forming life-long friendships; this cohort was no exception.

Our "late night" offerings included an ice cream social, nightcaps, a cocktail hour with alumni and JWI friends, and a tour of historic Old Town Alexandria, Virginia - the location of the Fellowship. We also heard whispers of an unofficial (but approved!) spontaneous trip to a local cigar and jazz lounge. In short, the 2024 Summer class bonded beautifully.

The week concluded with a wonderful dinner at storied Gadsby's Tavern, filled with boisterous laughter, delicious food, and heartfelt thanks; we could not have asked for a finer farewell. Yet this is, of course, not "goodbye," but "see you soon!"

We are thrilled to now welcome this superb group of young lawyers into the James Wilson Institute Alumni network; through which they will be afforded several opportunities to continue their pursuit of truth and find the support they need to strive for a better jurisprudence.