Session Three: Trump and the Rule of Law

 Session Three: Trump and the Rule of Law

Essential Questions:

• How has the Trump administration attacked the rule of law in America?

• Why are the separation of powers so important in protecting the Republic?

• How do authoritarians neuter the judicial branch?

• How have the courts responded to Trump's executive orders?

• What has been the traditional role of the DOJ in relation to the executive branch? How has it changed?

• What are the impacts for states when the federal government asks for information about individuals and businesses?

Music: "Deportee," Woodie Guthrie, Anni DiFranco & Ry Cooter, Link to Site

Welcome and Introductions

Gathering: "A question that I have for the speakers is..." (chat room)

Speakers: Kathy Jennings, De. Attorney General; Shannon Hanson, former Interim US Attorney for Delaware, and De. Governor Matt Meyer

Readings:

• Lisa Graves, "How Chief Justice John Roberts rewrote the Constituiton and Helped Trump Return to Power", zeto.com, 10/6/25 Link to site

• James Chemerinsky, "An Extraordinary Opinion for Extraordinary Times," staytuned.substack.com, 10/6/25  Link to Site

• podcast, "The Indictment of James Comey,"The Daily, New York Times, 9/26/25 Link to site

• Peter Shane,  "This is the Presidency John Roberts Has Built," The Atlantic, Link to Site

• "Trump's Power and the Rule of Law," PBS Frontline, July 15, 2025 Link to Site

• Emily Bazelon & Mattathias Schwartz, "The Education of Judge Ali, " NYTimes Magazine, July 13, 2025   Link to Site

• Nancy Gertner & Stephen Vladeck, "This Attack on a Federal Judge is Preposterous, NYTimes, 8/4/25  link to Site

• Michael Luttig, "The End of Rule of Law in America," The Atlantic, May 14, 2025, Link to Site

•David Remnick, "Your questions answered: Trump vs. the Rule of Law," New Yorker Radio Hour. 8/8/25

Link to Site

Closing: "Something that I learned tonight was.." (chat room)

Quote:

And earlier this month, a television journalist asked Trump the simple question, "Don't you need to uphold the constitution of the United States as president." Astonishingly, the president answered, "I don't know."

    J. Michael Luttig, from "The End of Rule of Law in America," The Atlantic, 5/14/25

    from J. Michael Luttig, "The End of Rule of Law in America"