Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation鈥檚 past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

鈥淎s the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,鈥� said Jason Husser, director of the 乱伦视频 Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. 鈥淲e found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.鈥�

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only 鈥渇air鈥� or 鈥減oor.鈥�

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country鈥檚 long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation鈥檚 democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation鈥檚 semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the 乱伦视频 Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:聽www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 乱伦视频 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

About the 乱伦视频 Poll

Established in 2000, the 乱伦视频 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens鈥� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 乱伦视频 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 乱伦视频 Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The 乱伦视频 Poll鈥檚 voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

The foundation is the charitable arm of the Mecklenburg Bar Association, dedicated to service, access to justice and community engagement in the Charlotte region.

The appointment reflects 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 growing engagement with Charlotte鈥檚 legal community and the law school鈥檚 emphasis on service and experiential learning through its existing part-time Flex Program and proposed full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program, which plans to enroll its first class in fall 2027.

Since the launch of the Flex Program in 2024, Butterworth has helped cultivate partnerships between 乱伦视频 Law and nonprofit organizations across the Charlotte area, connecting students with volunteer opportunities, nonprofit organizations and community service initiatives. Those efforts have included collaborations with organizations such as Safe Alliance, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the Guardian ad Litem Program, as well as campus supply drives and events hosted by area agencies.

Many of those organizations have also met with Flex Program students during weekly Evening Docket events, providing students the opportunity to meet with and learn from legal professionals in the community.

Dean Zak Kramer said Butterworth has played an important role in establishing the Flex Program鈥檚 presence and growing the law school鈥檚 presence in Charlotte.

鈥淓mma has invested herself in the life of the Flex Program and the Charlotte community,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淪he has made a real difference for 乱伦视频 Law, our students, and our neighbors in Charlotte.鈥�

Vice Dean and Professor of Law Alan D. Woodlief said Butterworth鈥檚 appointment reflects both her commitment to community engagement and 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 broader mission in Charlotte.

鈥淭he Mecklenburg Bar Foundation does important work throughout the Charlotte area, and Emma has been deeply committed to connecting our students with opportunities to serve and learn,鈥� Woodlief said. 鈥淗er leadership has strengthened 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 ties to Charlotte鈥檚 legal and nonprofit communities, and advanced our students鈥� professional lives.鈥�

Butterworth said the role aligns closely with 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 mission and will create additional ways for students to engage with the legal profession in Charlotte.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored to serve alongside members of the Mecklenburg Bar Association in support of the Foundation鈥檚 mission of giving back to the Charlotte community,鈥� Butterworth said. 鈥淭he Charlotte legal community has warmly welcomed both the Flex Program and me personally, and that support has created opportunities for meaningful partnerships and collaboration. I look forward to continuing to build connections with local nonprofits while expanding opportunities for our students to engage in service and professional development.鈥�

Presiding over the ceremony were The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of the North Carolina Superior Court and The Hon. Bill Davis of the North Carolina District Court. Graduates were presented to the court by sponsoring attorneys before being admitted to practice before the state bar, the federal bar or both.

鈥淭oday is the day you can represent people, represent clients and call yourself a lawyer,鈥� Eagles said during the Thursday, May 21, session. 鈥淚t鈥檚 your job to stand up for people and to stand up for the rule of law. It is your job to conduct yourself uprightly and according to law, and to look after our system of justice every day in everything that you do.鈥�

The ceremony was hosted by the 鈥檚 Young Lawyers Section, one of many held across North Carolina and the nation as members of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Class of 2025 complete their legal studies after December graduations and successful performances on the February 2026 bar examinations. Dean of 乱伦视频 Law Zak Kramer delivered remarks welcoming new attorneys, calling the ceremony 鈥渢he culmination of years of work and sacrifice by our graduates and their families.鈥�

Jonathan M. Parisi, president of the Young Lawyers Section, encouraged newly licensed attorneys to engage in the legal profession and broader community as they begin their careers.

鈥淭his is not the end of your learning journey. It鈥檚 just the beginning,鈥� Parisi said. 鈥淪eek out mentors, get involved in your legal community, and find ways to serve.鈥�

Davis reminded them that their professional reputation will shape their careers.

鈥淵our reputation is your greatest tool and your greatest asset,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淏e thoughtful about how you interact with judges, lawyers, clients and court staff. Build a reputation that will serve you well and help you succeed.鈥�

Reese emphasized the responsibility attorneys assume when clients place their trust, livelihoods and futures in lawyers鈥� hands.

鈥淵ou鈥檝e shown incredible strength and character in making it to this point,鈥� Reese told the newly admitted attorneys. 鈥淧eople put their very lives in your hands. From today forward, you have that responsibility, and no one else can carry it for you. You are their voice. You are their guide and their strength in the storm.鈥�

Eagles also encouraged the graduates to pursue civic leadership beyond courtrooms and law offices.

鈥淟awyers are often the people making the nonlegal parts of our community work,鈥� Eagles said. 鈥淔ind your place where you can make a contribution beyond the courtroom and your office.鈥�

Presiding over the ceremonial court sessions were:

The Hon. Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

The Hon. Stephanie L. Reese of North Carolina Superior Court for the 24th District

The Hon. Bill Davis of North Carolina District Court for the 24th District

乱伦视频 Law graduates admitted to federal and state court

乱伦视频 law graduates seeking admission only to federal court

乱伦视频 Law graduates seeking admission only to state court

听尝’25

About 乱伦视频 Law

乱伦视频 Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

乱伦视频 Law has graduated more than 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining an A+ rating each year since 2023. 乱伦视频 Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

乱伦视频 has applied to the American Bar Association to open a full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program in Charlotte beginning in fall 2027. The 乱伦视频 Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched there in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it will enroll its third cohort in fall 2026.

This volume includes articles from contributors to the law review鈥檚 2025 symposium, 鈥淏reaking News: First Amendment on Trial,鈥� which explored emerging challenges to free speech and expression. It also features legal analysis by 乱伦视频 Law graduates of the Class of 2025.

Published annually by 乱伦视频 Law students, the 乱伦视频 Law Review is dedicated to advancing thoughtful, practice-informed legal scholarship that engages timely and complex legal questions shaping the profession and society.

The volume continues the journal鈥檚 commitment to rigorous analysis of emerging legal issues.

鈥淭he 乱伦视频 Law Review is proud to present Volume 18 to scholars, practitioners and readers interested in timely legal issues,鈥� said Rachel Claffee L鈥�26, the journal鈥檚 editor-in-chief. 鈥淭his edition features scholarship exploring how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are reshaping the First Amendment and journalism. It also includes analysis of juvenile commercial sexual exploitation courts, racial annexation in rural North Carolina, the reasonable doubt standard, and disaster resilience, including work completed by members of the 乱伦视频 Law Review Class of 2025.鈥�

At 乱伦视频 School of Law, Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law Luke Bierman left his mark on a curriculum unlike any other in legal education: a 2.5-year J.D. program built around a full-time Residency-in-Practice. Already proven 鈥渁 law school with a difference,鈥� that curriculum has become a nationally recognized model of experiential legal education, consistently ranked for the quality of its programs and the success of its graduates.

鈥淓verything that distinguishes 乱伦视频 Law today traces back to Luke鈥檚 vision and the decisions he made to reimagine legal education,鈥� said Dean Zak Kramer. 鈥淥ur students learn the law by living it, and that distinctive model continues to shape every graduate who walks across our stage.鈥�

Faculty, staff, university leaders and friends gathered May 12 in the 乱伦视频 Law Library to celebrate Bierman鈥檚 career and unveil an impressively detail portrait painted by Laurel Boeck, honoring a teacher, scholar and dean whose influence continues to impact every 乱伦视频 Law student.

鈥淲ithout question, Luke was the right person to lead 乱伦视频 Law when he arrived in 2014,鈥� said Vice Dean Alan Woodlief, who has served as an associate or vice dean since the law school鈥檚 inception, on May 12. 鈥淟uke is truly an innovator, and his innovations at 乱伦视频 Law have been central to the school鈥檚 success and prosperity over the past 12 years.鈥�

When Bierman arrived, legal education faced a crisis of cost, time and relevance. Applications were plummeting nationwide, and critics 鈥� including then-President Barack Obama 鈥� argued that law school took too long, cost too much and left too many graduates unprepared for the realities of practice.

Bierman turned that critique into an opportunity.

Working with 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 faculty and staff, he led the curriculum redesign, shortened the path to a law degree and embedded every student in full-time legal residency before graduation. 乱伦视频 Law students now complete their degrees in seven trimesters over 2.5 years and spend a full trimester in a course-connected Residency-in-Practice that pairs them with judges and lawyers in judicial chambers, law firms, businesses, government agencies and other organizations. Tying the residency program to academic requirements emphasizes professional development and mentorship from both faculty and site supervisors.

The redesign reduced average student loan debt by nearly 30 percent 鈥� a fact he鈥檚 most proud of 鈥� and propelled 乱伦视频 Law to record enrollment, stronger academic credentials, improved bar passage and employment outcomes, and sustained national recognition for practical training. In 2021, the American Bar Association reaccredited the law school following a successful review under Bierman鈥檚 leadership.

鈥淟uke Bierman鈥檚 contributions to 乱伦视频 extend far beyond his tenure as dean of the School of Law,鈥� said 乱伦视频 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淗e guided 乱伦视频 Law through a period of transformative change and continued to invest in our students as a teacher and mentor. His legacy is reflected in the strength of the law school, its distinctive place in legal education, and the generations of lawyers who will continue to find their purpose at 乱伦视频 Law.鈥�

鈥溌衣资悠� has been fortunate to have the right dean at the right time in the evolution of its young law school,鈥� said Leo M. Lambert, 乱伦视频鈥檚 president emeritus and professor of education. 鈥淒ean Bierman brought a tremendous spirit of innovation and experimentation to 乱伦视频 Law, building on 乱伦视频鈥檚 national reputation for experiential learning. It was a perfect DNA match.鈥�

鈥淟uke is first and foremost a teacher, and a lawyer second,鈥� said Steven D. House, who served as 乱伦视频鈥檚 provost from 2009 through 2019. 鈥淗is focus has been and always will be transformation. The program he built transforms students鈥� lives while strengthening and serving the broader legal and civic community.鈥�

An Educator First

Bierman always carries two items with him: A Bic pen and a pocket Constitution.

For him, they symbolize a commitment to teaching and to the institutions that sustain democracy. As dean, he began the tradition of giving every 乱伦视频 Law student a pocket Constitution.

鈥淓ducation is important to us because we know how important it is to America,鈥� Bierman said May 12. 鈥淭homas Jefferson, James Madison and all those folks from 250 years ago thought that education was incredibly important to the American experiment in self-government. That鈥檚 the rule of law. That鈥檚 what we鈥檙e here at this law school and across the country thinking about and are terribly worried about at this moment in our national history.鈥�

He is a third-generation lawyer but didn鈥檛 grow up anticipating a legal career. Perhaps because of that, his career rarely followed a straight line.

He moved among roles in legal practice, public service, policy and higher education, pursuing work that interested him and challenged him. Before joining 乱伦视频 Law in 2014, he served as associate dean for experiential education at Northeastern University School of Law, executive director of the Institute for Emerging Issues at North Carolina State University, general counsel to the New York State Comptroller and leader of the American Bar Association Judicial Division. These responsibilities reflect academic and professional achievements that include election to Phi Beta Kappa and the American Law Institute.

鈥淭he attraction was to do something different where I could learn something,鈥� Bierman said recently. 鈥淐oming to 乱伦视频 to think about curriculum and curricular programs and activities was natural for me.鈥�

That motivation 鈥� to learn, to experiment, to acquire new skills 鈥� stemmed from a core family value: Education.

鈥淚 think of myself as an educator, maybe even more than I think of myself as a lawyer,鈥� Bierman said.

He is the second of three generations of teachers. His mother taught in public schools. His sister leads a school in Vermont. Two of his daughters work in education, and all three have earned doctoral degrees.

Reflecting on his legacy at 乱伦视频 Law, he returned to the same concerns that guided 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 transformation.

鈥淚 do hope the work that we did at 乱伦视频 Law remains. The ideas about cost, length and relevance: I hope those remain top of mind. Higher education is critically important in the world. We need to be responsive to how the world functions and operates.鈥�

乱伦视频 Law Review

• Aleezah Adams
• Trinity Barata
• Vivian Camplin
• Megan Chen
• Kali Crooks
• Samantha Davis
• Frank Deronja
• Avery Ferrigno
• Lauren Heist
• Jordan Hicks
• Isabela Latorre
• Maya Mahs
• Carson Patterson
• Bryanna Rediger
• Queen Salaam
• Alex Sarmiento
• Andrew Stark
• Baron Turner

The 乱伦视频 Law Review was established in 2008 as the student-run and student-edited scholarly journal of the 乱伦视频 School of Law. With each issue, the journal strives to advance legal education and scholarship through the contribution of intelligent discussion and analysis of the law. In addition to publishing an annual issue that examines novel and significant topics of legal scholarship, the 乱伦视频 Law Review hosts an annual symposium on an emerging topic in the legal field.

Professor David S. Levine and Professor Eric Fink serve as advisors to the 乱伦视频 Law Review.

We The People 鈥� 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Constitutional Law Journal

• Madison Curtis
• Kayleigh Foster
• Jacqueline Gardner
• John Grice
• John Grosso
• Noah Jackson
• Kyla King
• Michael Maroney
• Gordon McKeehan
• Kassidy Neuner
• Grant Paramore
• Cole Payne
• Karly Pins
• John Prather
• Emily Radcliffe
• Lily Sanders
• Kaitlyn Sella
• Leah Shaw

We The People 鈥� 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Constitutional Law Journal aspires to promote the contribution of intelligent discussion and analysis of the U.S. Constitution and constitutional law-related issues. The online journal was founded in 2022, aiming to foster healthy dialogue on timely legal issues in a respectful manner that its founders observed is often missing in contemporary debate.

Professor David S. Levine serves as the journal鈥檚 advisor.

Speaking during 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, May 6, at Greensboro鈥檚 Proximity Hotel, Kantor discussed her reporting on the Supreme Court, including extensive behind-the-scenes investigations of the Court鈥檚 internal processes and the justices themselves.

This spring, she and colleague Adam Liptak examining the Supreme Court鈥檚 growing use of its emergency or 鈥渟hadow docket,鈥� through which consequential rulings are often issued rapidly and with limited explanation or legal reasoning. At a moment of declining trust in institutions and the judiciary itself, Kantor warned that the practice can bypass some of the traditional safeguards associated with judicial deliberation and further erode public confidence in the court.

鈥淛udges write opinions as an act of transparency and humility and faith,鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淎n opinion says to the public: 鈥榊ou may disagree with this decision. It may put your brother in jail. It may mean the end of your business. But I want you to know that I鈥檓 being sincere, and that I diligently worked through the law to come to this conclusion.鈥欌��

Kantor鈥檚 lecture series appearance featured an extended conversation with Professor Catherine Ross Dunham, a charter member of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 faculty whose scholarship focuses on civil procedure and complex litigation.

Kantor earned international recognition for her work with colleague Megan Twohey in exposing decades of sexual abuse allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. That reporting helped ignite the global #MeToo movement. Kantor and Twohey won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2018, and their work was later published in later adapted into an acclaimed film. Her other work has focused on technology and the modern workplace, leading to changes at companies like Amazon and Starbucks, and the Obamas鈥� life inside the White House. Most recently, she joined the New York Times鈥� Supreme Court team.

Investigating the Supreme Court

鈥淚nvestigative journalism is about taking secrets that are in the public interest and putting them into sunlight,鈥� Kantor said.

She described her reporting on the Court 鈥� in her words, 鈥渙ne of the most secretive institutions in American life鈥� 鈥� as seeking to better understand how power operates within one of the nation鈥檚 least transparent institutions, including questions surrounding internal negotiations among justices, the role of clerks and the long-term effects of lifetime appointments.

鈥淗ow much do they bargain with one another? What role do clerks play? How does power really flow?鈥� Kantor asked. 鈥淲hat does it mean to hold power at that level for 20 or 30 years? How do people age in those jobs?鈥�

At the same time, she acknowledged the tension between transparency and judicial independence, arguing that 鈥渏udges need room to think, to deliberate, to change their minds.”

She emphasized that she isn鈥檛 interested in exposing pending Court decisions because that 聽鈥渨ould interfere with the judicial process.”

鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to know everything about the Supreme Court,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I still think there are important questions worth answering.鈥�

Privacy, secrecy and institutional power

Kantor repeatedly turned to the distinction between privacy and secrecy 鈥� a theme connecting both her Weinstein reporting and her more recent investigations into the Supreme Court.

鈥淲hat I learned from the Weinstein investigation is that there鈥檚 a difference between privacy and secrecy,鈥� Kantor said, referencing the nondisclosure agreements now required of Supreme Court staff and the stifling secrecy of settlement agreements in Weinstein鈥檚 case.

鈥淰ictims deserved privacy,鈥� Kantor said of the Weinstein investigation. 鈥淏ut was the system benefiting from blanket secrecy that enabled predation? No. Legal culture is very invested in confidentiality, but confidentiality can run amok in ways that deprive the public of enough information to understand what is happening.鈥�

She warned that excessive confidentiality inside powerful institutions 鈥� including courts, workplaces and corporations 鈥� can ultimately weaken public understanding and democratic trust.

鈥淛ournalism is one of democracy鈥檚 valves,鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淚 would rather us have rigorous coverage of the Supreme Court that leads to productive debate than a thousand other things, including the really disruptive political violence we鈥檙e seeing across the (political) spectrum.鈥�

Resisting political caricatures

The conversation explored the dangers of reducing Supreme Court justices to simplistic political caricatures. Kantor pointed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett as an example of a jurist who was immediately misunderstood by both the political right and left when she was appointed in October 2020.

Kantor described Barrett as 鈥減erhaps the most independent of the Republican-appointed justices,鈥� adding that even some of Barrett鈥檚 ideological critics view her as intellectually serious and institutionally minded.

鈥淪he鈥檚 very conservative,鈥� Kantor said, 鈥渂ut she has this independent streak. She wants to be trusted by a broad swath of Americans. She does not want to be pigeonholed.鈥�

Starting a meaningful career

Kantor also reflected on questions of professional purpose and career-building, themes explored in her new book, Drawing on her workplace reporting and conversations with students navigating political uncertainty, economic anxiety and rapid technological change, Kantor encouraged young professionals to identify their talents, develop a craft and identify a societal need their craft addresses.

When evaluating early-career opportunities, Kantor said she encourages young professionals to focus less on prestige and more on growth, mentorship and intellectual curiosity. Taking calculated risks to gain experience and further develop craft will pay off.

鈥淎re you learning?鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淎nd are you working for good people?鈥�

Earlier in the day, Kantor met with 乱伦视频 Law students, faculty and staff for a smaller discussion centered on identifying purpose and launching meaningful careers in a challenging time.

About 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series

The Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series presented by The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation is an integral part of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 commitment to learning, lawyering and leadership. Endowed through a generous gift from The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greensboro, N.C., the series brings accomplished leaders from a variety of disciplines to 乱伦视频 to share their experiences and perspectives with students and faculty.

乱伦视频 Law students and faculty gathered for 鈥淛udicial Interpretation and Review Under the United States Constitution,鈥� hosted by We the People 鈥� 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Constitutional Journal.

The program featured retired North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professor of Law; North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr., an adjunct professor at 乱伦视频 Law; and Professor of Law Enrique Armijo, a constitutional law scholar. Professor of Law David Levine, who also serves as faculty adviser to We the People, moderated.

Their conversation centered on three themes: competing approaches to constitutional interpretation, the growing public and political pressure on courts, and how judges navigate decision-making in practice.

A central focus was the longstanding debate between originalism and the idea of a 鈥渓iving Constitution.鈥�

Berger said he follows a textualist approach grounded in original meaning, cautioning against judges imposing their own will on constitutional interpretation.

鈥淚f interpretation relies on will, then the Constitution can mean anything at any time,鈥� Berger said, pointing to the amendment process as the appropriate avenue for change.

Beasley characterized judicial review and interpretation as a pendulum that swings back and forth throughout American history, and said that the Constitution must function for the country as it exists today. She pointed out that the Founding Fathers wouldn鈥檛 have considered her, a Black woman, as deserving of rights 鈥� let alone able to serve on the court.

Armijo pointed to processes and landmark cases, like Brown v. Board of Education, as examples where historical meaning did not control modern outcomes. He framed constitutional interpretation as competing theories that provide the 鈥渞easons for the reasons鈥� behind judicial decisions.

Panelists also addressed the pressures shaping today鈥檚 judiciary.

Berger described a 鈥渃heerleading鈥� dynamic in which the public focuses more on outcomes than legal reasoning. Beasley pointed to the influence of money in judicial elections and the challenge of balancing transparency with safety, citing concerns about threats against judges. Armijo noted that decisions in high-profile cases have become increasingly predictable in a more politically polarized environment.

鈥淵ou can often predict how individual (U.S. Supreme Court) justices are going to vote,鈥� Armijo said, adding that partisan politics risks reducing the rule of law to a scoreboard of judicial appointments.

Berger emphasized the importance of consistent methodology, even when outcomes are difficult. Beasley said judges inevitably bring their life and professional experiences to the bench, but are bound to apply the law faithfully, balancing human perspective with legal obligation.

鈥淚s there some level of humanity in decision-making? I believe there is 鈥� and I don鈥檛 know that that鈥檚 a bad thing.鈥�

Six judges, comprising two panels, heard oral arguments in two cases inside the law school鈥檚 Robert E. Long Courtroom on Wed., April 15. Following recess, they held an extended Q&A session with students in the courtroom where they shared lessons drawn from decades of experience on and off the bench.

Among their advice to young lawyers:

• Be willing to concede a point 鈥� then quickly move on to explain why your client still prevails.
• It鈥檚 OK to say, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know,鈥� rather than risk your credibility. Return to your argument about why your client should win the case.
• Structure legal briefs as clear roadmaps of your argument for the Court.
• Be concise in your writing. Make your point, support it with the law and move forward.
• Use caution with AI: Verify facts and citations before submitting any work to the court. Large language models often hallucinate legal matters.

Judges hearing arguments and interacting with students were:

• The Hon. Chris Dillon, Chief Judge of the N.C. Court of Appeals
• The Hon. John Arrowood
• The Hon. Jefferson Griffin
• The Hon. Toby Hampson
• The Hon. Donna Stroud
• The Hon. John Tyson

Judges heard arguments in two very different cases.

The first, , centers on whether certain residential units should be classified as townhomes or duplexes under local building codes, a distinction with significant regulatory consequences 鈥� and now potential financial consequences for individual property owners.

The second case, , out of Forsyth County, involves the state鈥檚 appeal of a trial court鈥檚 decision to dismiss charges after testimony referenced a prior case, raising questions about prejudice and appropriate remedies.

鈥淚t was an incredible experience for our students to observe six judges from the North Carolina Court of Appeals and four highly skilled appellate advocates in action, particularly as our first-year students prepare to present their own appellate arguments in their required Legal Method & Communication course in a few weeks,鈥� said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law. 鈥淪everal of the judges visiting today consistently welcome 乱伦视频 Law students to their chambers for their Residencies-in-Practice, summer internships, or full-time clerkships after graduation. It was great to have several current Residency students accompany their judges to the oral arguments.鈥�

乱伦视频 Law students鈥� takeaways

Law students listened intently to judges鈥� lines of questioning, but also to the ways appellant litigators structured their arguments, responded to jurists鈥� questions and addressed the court.

鈥淚 was paying attention to everything. I could understand why this is such a complicated case 鈥� codes changing, proposals changing, multiple parties 鈥� and I appreciated the judges asking why it got to this point and where responsibility lies,鈥� said Lamarie Austin-Stripling LF 鈥�29. A student in 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 part-time Charlotte Flex Program, Austin-Stripling drove from her home in Concord, North Carolina, to hear arguments before returning to the Queen City for classes that night.

Greensboro law students were just as engaged.

• 鈥淲hat struck me most is how much of what I鈥檝e already been doing 鈥� in the classroom, in residency, and in internships 鈥� showed up in these arguments. It reinforced that I鈥檓 learning the skills I鈥檒l need to be in that position one day.鈥� 鈥� Tyler Sesker L鈥�26, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, who earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Hollins University and the University of Virginia.

• 聽鈥淚 was surprised by how collaborative the process is 鈥� judges discussing cases with each other and their clerks before and after arguments. It was valuable to see how the pros do it and what approaches seemed to resonate.鈥� 鈥� Tom Desch L鈥�27, of Cornelius, North Carolina, who earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina

• 鈥淥ne of the most impactful takeaways was hearing from the judges that if an attorney doesn鈥檛 know an answer, it is okay to say, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know.鈥� Being honest about the limits of your knowledge is much better than risking your credibility.鈥� 鈥� Paulina Escobar L鈥�27, of Ecuador, who holds a law degree from the University of the Americas in Quito, Ecuador.

乱伦视频 Law alumnus argues in his home court

For one attorney arguing before the court, the visit marked a return to where his legal career began.

Reginaldo Williams L鈥�11, now an attorney with the North Carolina Department of Justice, presented arguments in State v. Cuadra. His path to appellate advocacy, however, was far from certain.

鈥淚 was that person wondering, 鈥榃hy did I do this?鈥欌�� Williams said following hearings, recalling his time as a law student. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel like I fit as a prosecutor or a public defender. But when I did my first oral argument, I knew 鈥� this is it.鈥�

Williams credits guidance from Professor of Law Catherine Ross Dunham with helping him stay the course at a moment when he considered leaving law school altogether. That decision ultimately led him to appellate practice, where he now represents the state in criminal appeals.

鈥淭here are a lot of students who may not feel like they鈥檝e found their place yet,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut you will. And when you do, it makes all the difference.鈥�

In the influential publication鈥檚 2026 , 乱伦视频 Law is No. 11 nationally 鈥� the highest-ranked law school in the Southeast and the only school in North Carolina among the top 35.

, with its required Residency-in-Practice Program highlighted as a model for immersive, practice-based legal education. All 乱伦视频 Law students spend 10 weeks in the winter or spring of their second year in full-time placements with practicing lawyers, judges and legal teams, graduating with hands-on experience in the day-to-day realities of legal practice.

鈥淵ou cannot graduate from 乱伦视频 Law without knowing exactly what it鈥檚 like to be a lawyer,鈥� 乱伦视频 Law Dean Zak Kramer said in the article. 鈥淭he legal practice becomes their classroom 鈥� They leave law students and come back lawyers.鈥�

The article also features insights from Patricia Perkins, 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 associate dean of academic affairs and professor of law. 鈥淥ur curriculum is designed to assist students in transforming into the lawyers they want to be,鈥� she said. 鈥淪kills are just as important to develop as a knowledge base.鈥�

PreLaw Magazine graded and ranked schools based on student participation in clinics, externships, simulation courses, moot court and other special programs.

乱伦视频 Law offers students a broad array of opportunities to hone practical training skills throughout their 2.5 years of study. Those include:

• Full-time residencies-in-practice
• Lab and simulation courses
• Five clinics (immigration, small business and entrepreneurship, wills drafting, Social Security disability benefits and guardian ad litem appellate advocacy)
• Moot court and mock trial teams
• Internships, externships and judicial clerkships
• Bridge-to-practice courses
• Involvement with the Pro Bono Board

乱伦视频 Law adopted its 2.5-year, seven-trimester full-time curriculum in 2014, making it the only American law school to intentionally design a program where all students graduate in December and can sit for the February bar exam 鈥� months ahead of peers from other institutions. (In 2026, 91.96% of 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 first-time North Carolina bar takers passed the exam.)

By completing their legal studies nearly six months faster than traditional programs, 乱伦视频 Law鈥檚 full-time graduates have lowered their average student debt at graduation by almost a third since the curriculum was adopted.

For more information on 乱伦视频 Law and the application process, visit the law school鈥檚 admissions page. 乱伦视频 Law continues to actively admit the 乱伦视频 Law Class of 2028, which will enroll in August 2026.