Recent News and Updates

PICTURED ABOVE: Director Paul W. Grimm speaks at the Lemkin Medal event, one of many lunch events the Bolch Judicial Institute hosts or facilitates each year. Bolch-sponsored lunch events give thought leaders, like 2024 Lemkin Medal honoree Judge Esther Salas, also pictured above with Judge Robin Rosenberg, an opportunity to connect with students on campus.

From Director Paul W. Grimm

Dear Friends,

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your support of our programs, projects, and publications, as well as your ongoing commitment to our mission to protect and defend the rule of law. Your support has propelled the Bolch Judicial Institute forward in ways I could never have imagined, and your engagement in our mission has never been more important.

This newsletter reports on the Bolch Judicial Institute’s activities over the past several months. There is much to report! We held our first Defending the Judiciary Conference in October, developed and implemented a new civics education project, published new research on trauma-informed court practices, led several international programs, and so much more. We also announced a $10 million pledge from RaceTrac Inc. in honor of our founding donors, Carl Bolch, Jr., (Duke Law Class of 1967) and his wife Susan Bass Bolch. The gift will match funds raised by the Institute over the next 10 years. As Duke Law Dean Kerry Abrams said, it is an enormous vote of confidence in the Institute's work, and we could not be more grateful.

My predecessor, David F. Levi, describes a “magic” that makes the courts work — and work well — despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I, too, experienced that magic as a judge. After retiring from the bench, I've been grateful to experience a new kind of magic at the Institute, fueled by the passion of students, faculty, and staff at the Bolch Judicial Institute and Duke Law School as well as all our many constituents and supporters across the United States and around the globe.

I announced this spring that I will step down from my role as director at the end of this year. As Duke Law engages in a search for my successor, I look forward to supporting the next director of the Institute in advancing our important work. The Bolch Judicial Institute is leading a national movement to support and strengthen the judiciary, to advance and protect the rule of law, and to restore public trust in courts. I am inspired by the many individuals and organizations that have joined in this urgent endeavor. There is much to do — and we will do it together.

Best wishes,

Paul W. Grimm
David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and
Director, Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School
Senior U.S. District Judge (retired)

New $10 million gift to expand work of Duke Law’s Bolch Judicial Institute

Duke University has received a $10 million gift from RaceTrac, a 90-year-old Atlanta-based convenience store leader, to expand the work of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School, a center of learning for judges, lawyers, and students that aims to advance principles such as judicial independence and the rule of law.

Former Chief Justice of Pakistan Tassaduq Hussain Jillani to receive 2025 Bolch Prize

Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, the 21st Chief Justice of Pakistan, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law by the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School. As a trailblazing jurist, Chief Justice Jillani authored landmark opinions to help advance human rights, gender equity, and democracy in Pakistan.

Paul W. Grimm to step down as director of Bolch Judicial Institute

Paul W. Grimm, the David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law and Director of the Bolch Judicial Institute, has announced he will step down when his term concludes at the end of 2025. Grimm, a 2016 graduate of Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies program, came to the Institute in 2023 after serving 25 years on the federal bench.

WATCH | Judge Esther Salas receives 2024 Lemkin Award at Duke Law ceremony

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas was awarded the 2024 Raphael Lemkin Rule of Law Guardian Medal at an event held at Duke Law School to recognize her heroic efforts to strengthen security for judges and their families.

Institute Hosts First “Defending the Judiciary Conference” at Duke University

The Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School hosted a conference Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2024, at Duke University as part of its Defending the Judiciary initiative. The conference’s primary aim was to find better ways to defend judges and the judiciary from a growing wave of unfair and inappropriate attacks that threaten judicial independence and diminish public faith in our judicial system.

Institute Hosts Third Annual McGovern Symposium at Duke

The Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School hosted the third annual McGovern Symposium on Civil Litigation on December 12, 2024, at Duke University. The symposium was made possible through the generous support of David Bernick and Chris Seeger, founding contributors to the McGovern Fund.

Read Judicature Vol. 108 No. 2 (2024)

Judicature Vol. 108 No. 2 (2024) is available to read online! Visit judicature.duke.edu/intl to catch up on the latest interviews, essays, and news round-ups published in the monthly web-only publication Judicature International.

Trauma-Informed Courts Initiative Publishes Articles Highlighting Judicial Perspectives and Practices

The Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School’s Trauma-Informed Practices in the Courts initiative has published two original research articles, providing valuable insights into judges’ attitudes and practices regarding trauma-informed care in the courtroom.

Federal Judges Attend Technology Course at Duke

Federal judges from across the United States attended a multi-day course at Duke University designed to help judges understand and anticipate new ways technology will impact the legal profession. The program, “Law and Technology for Judges,” was co-hosted by the Bolch Judicial Institute and the Federal Judicial Center in September 2024.

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