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Recent News and Updates
PICTURED ABOVE: Bolch Judicial Institute Director Kimberly J. Mueller presents the 2026 Susan and Carl Bolch Jr. Prize for the Rule of Law to David F. Levi, the Institute’s founding director, during an April ceremony at Duke University.
From Director Kimberly J. Mueller
Dear Friends,
This spring/summer edition of our newsletter comes at a time of both celebration and remembrance for the Bolch Judicial Institute.
In April, we honored David F. Levi, the Institute’s founding director, with the 2026 Susan and Carl Bolch Jr. Prize for the Rule of Law. The event brought together judges, lawyers, scholars, Duke Law alumni, and friends of the Institute to recognize David’s lifelong commitment to strengthening the rule of law and improving our justice system. A series of programs reflected the spirit of his work, with substantive discussions about judicial collegiality as well as the challenges facing our courts and how to address them.
We are remembering our founder, Carl Bolch Jr., who passed away in December. Carl and his wife, Susan Bass Bolch, gave the founding gift that established the Institute as a home for judicial education, scholarship, civic engagement, and programs that bring judges, lawyers, scholars, and public leaders together in service of the courts. Carl’s devotion to the rule of law came from personal experience: As the CEO of his family company, RaceTrac, he attributed his success in business to “a system built on the rule of law, and a society that respects the rule of law.” His vision, generosity, and ambition continue to infuse our work with purpose, and we are so proud to carry his legacy forward through the Bolch Judicial Institute.
We also mourn another generous supporter, Stanley A. Star, who passed away in May. Our Stanley A. Star and Elizabeth A. Star Rule of Law Fund, established in their honor by family, friends, and Duke Law alumni, supports our programs focused on enhancing understanding of the rule of law and is a fitting tribute to his legacy of philanthropy at Duke.
Carl and Stanley are wonderful examples of the transformative power of philanthropy. We are grateful for their trust in this work, and we hold Susan Bolch, Elizabeth Star, and their families close in our thoughts as we remember meaningful lives of service, generosity, and commitment to Duke Law. Their vision and support continue to shape the Institute’s work today.
As I am beginning my tenure as director, I am grateful for those who built and sustained the Institute and for the extended community that continues to support our mission. We are honored to carry this work forward.
With gratitude,
Kimberly J. Mueller
David F. Levi Professor of the Practice of Law
Director, Bolch Judicial Institute
Senior U.S. District Judge (retired)
In Memoriam
Remembering Carl Bolch Jr.: A Champion of the Rule of Law and Judicial Excellence
Carl Bolch Jr. ’67, founder of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School and chairman emeritus of RaceTrac, Inc., passed away on Dec. 26, 2025. Together with his wife, Susan Bass Bolch, he established the Institute in 2018 with a transformative gift and a vision to strengthen the rule of law, judicial independence, and the administration of justice. His legacy continues through the Institute’s judicial education programs, scholarship, civic education initiatives, and global work to support courts and the rule of law.
Remembering Stanley A. Star ’61 and His Legacy of Generosity
Stanley A. Star ’61, who passed away on May 29, 2026, is remembered for his generosity, leadership, and service to Duke Law and the Bolch Judicial Institute. His legacy continues through the Stanley A. Star and Elizabeth A. Star Rule of Law Fund, established in 2025 to honor the Stars’ longstanding commitment to Duke Law and to support work that protects and advances the rule of law and judicial independence. The endowment supports judicial education, including the Star Rule of Law Series.
Recent News
David F. Levi Awarded 2026 Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law
The Bolch Judicial Institute honored David F. Levi, president of the American Law Institute, founding director of the Bolch Judicial Institute, and former dean of Duke Law School, as the 2026 recipient of the Susan and Carl Bolch Jr. Prize for the Rule of Law. The April 15 ceremony celebrated Levi’s career-long commitment to judicial integrity, collegiality, democratic institutions, and improving the administration of justice. The program also featured a roundtable discussion on judicial collegiality with leading jurists, underscoring the role of public service and institutional trust in sustaining the rule of law.
Bolch Judicial Institute Welcomes New Board Members and Leadership
The Bolch Judicial Institute welcomed new members to its Advisory Board and to the Editorial Advisory Board of Judicature, its flagship publication. Jordan Bolch joined the Institute’s Advisory Board as a representative of the Bolch family, alongside Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Bates. Judicature also welcomed Justice Douglas M. Fasciale LLM’23 of the Supreme Court of New Jersey as chair of its Editorial Advisory Board, along with 10 new board members representing the judiciary, legal academy, and practicing bar.
New Media 101 Seminar Brings Judges, Legal Professionals, and Media Leaders Together
The Bolch Judicial Institute convened judges, journalists, educators, and digital creators at Duke in D.C. for a day-long New Media 101 seminar exploring how courts can engage thoughtfully in today’s evolving media landscape. Participants examined the opportunities and challenges presented by podcasts, social media, and other emerging platforms, with discussions focused on communication, public trust, civic education, and how the judiciary can reach new audiences while respecting judicial ethics.
Bolch Judicial Institute Hosts 2026 McGovern Symposium on Civil Litigation
The Bolch Judicial Institute hosted the 2026 McGovern Symposium on Civil Litigation on Feb. 26–27, bringing together judges, scholars, and practitioners to examine major issues shaping contemporary civil litigation. This year’s program focused on multidistrict litigation and developments in civil procedure, including early implementation of Rule 16.1, the use of bankruptcy in mass litigation, and the evolving role of bellwether proceedings. The symposium also featured a lunch panel on the experiences of women attorneys and judges in MDLs.
Bolch Judicial Institute Launches New Trauma-Informed Court Resources
The Bolch Judicial Institute has released a suite of free educational materials to help judges and court stakeholders better understand trauma and apply trauma-informed practices in court. The project translates research into practical tools, including bench cards, research summaries, video resources, courtroom design materials, and findings from a study of more than 200 court hearings. The resources were supported in large part by a grant from the North Carolina Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts and with support from the HopeStar Foundation.
Duke Law Alum Brings Civics Break to His Texas Community
Duke Law alum Al Faustino ’79 used Civics Break, the Bolch Judicial Institute’s nonpartisan civic education program, to lead conversations about courts, judges, and the rule of law in his Frisco, Texas, community. The course quickly became one of the most popular offerings in the community’s lifelong learning program, with registration filling in 20 minutes and additional sections added this spring. Faustino adapted the curriculum to include a discussion of the Texas judicial system, giving participants a deeper understanding of both federal and state courts.
Director Kim Mueller Reflects on the Vital Role of Trial Courts
In keynote remarks at a Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy symposium, Bolch Judicial Institute Director Kim Mueller reflected on the essential role trial courts play in the judiciary. Drawing on lessons from her time on the bench, Mueller emphasized that trial courts are where “legal theories meet lived reality” and where people, pleadings, and facts shape the work of justice.
Duke Law 3L Yucen Zhong Wins Judicature Writing Competition
Duke Law 3L Yucen Zhong was selected as the inaugural winner of Judicature’s Emerging Scholars Contest for her article, “Multidistrict Litigation as a Patent Venue Strategy After TC Heartland: Worth It or Too Risky for Litigants?” Chosen by a vote of the Judicature Editorial Board, Zhong’s piece will be published in a future edition of the journal, and she will receive a $1,000 prize. Judicature is also accepting submissions for next year’s prize through the end of 2026.
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