Justice and Society Program

breyer_oconnor_chertoffFor over four decades, the Justice and Society Program (JSP) has convened individuals from diverse backgrounds to discuss the meaning of justice and how a just society ought to balance fundamental rights with the exigencies of public policy, in order to meet contemporary social challenges and strengthen the rule of law. The annual Justice and Society Seminar, held in Aspen and co-founded by the late Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun, continues to be led by preeminent judges and law professors.

Our 2019 Sandra Day O’Connor Conversation featured former US Senator Jeff Flake. In the July appearance in Paepcke Auditorium, Flake reflected on his Arizonan upbringing, one shared with Justice O’Connor, delved into what being a conservative means, and explored the importance of local politics. He also discussed the origins of a politics of personal destruction and potential remedies for this contemporary affliction of the American soul. Catch up on the conversation here.

We’re also excited to share our recent report from our Religion & Society Program: “Pluralism in Peril: Challenges to an American Ideal.” The report explores how our nation can maintain its historical commitment to embracing people of all faith backgrounds against a backdrop of polarization. Pluralism in Peril offers guidance to community and interfaith leaders, youth-serving organizations, philanthropists, and state and local officials on specific action steps to build a more resilient, trust-based environment that fully incorporates American religious minorities. It also includes effective tools and strategies to defenders of this core American value. Essays explore ways to increase basic religious literacy, promote allyship and community resilience, and build bridges between youth of different faith traditions. The report can be found here and more information about our religious pluralism work and the Religion & Society Program (formerly the Inclusive America Project) can be found here.

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