Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018
American Bar Association president Hilarie Bass is concerned about creeping political influence on the judicial branch of government. She joins guest host Michael Bitzer to discuss challenges facing the judiciary.
The judicial system has been a regular target for President Trump, most recently the independent counsel probe of the president’s campaign. American Bar Association president Hilarie Bass says “democracy itself” is riding on the continued independence of that investigation.
Bass, who took the helm of the group in August, sees lawyers as the spearhead in “the effort to protect our democracy from its challenges.”
But it’s not just the president who is critical of the justice system. It wasn’t that long ago that surveys found the public was less trustful of the judicial branch as the country grabbled with police shootings and protests against law enforcement. Bass sees a role for the ABA to play in criminal justice reform as a way of restoring confidence in the law.
GUEST HOST
Dr. Michael Bitzer, professor of political science, Catawba College (@BowTiePolitics)
GUEST
Hilarie Bass, president, American Bar Association (@HilarieBass)
The World Affairs Council of Charlotte is hosting Ms. Bass on Thursday at the City Club. Her topic will be 'Defending the Rule of Law - At Home and Abroad.' Event information can be found here.