Principles First + Protect Democracy: Standing Up For Courts and Rule of Law

Join Principles First and Protect Democracy for an evening of good food, great company, and engaging discussion about threats to the rule of law, the independent judiciary, and the legal profession. The gathering will occur in the Holeman Lounge of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on the evening of Thursday, July 10th from 6pm-8:30pm EST. Doors open at 6pm.

The evening will begin with a welcome reception followed by two dynamic panel discussions. Our featured panelists include a distinguished group of former federal judges, leaders in the legal community, and others:

• Judge Paul Michel, formerly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit*
• Judge John E. Jones, formerly of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania*
• Judge Jeremy Fogel, formerly of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California & former Director of the Federal Judicial Center*
• Brenna Trout Frey, Counsel, Lowell & Associates
• Liz Oyer, former Pardon Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice
• Ron Davis, former Director of the United States Marshal Service
• Stuart Gerson, former Acting Attorney General

Moderators:

• Heath Mayo, Founder of Principles First
• Amit Agarwal, Special Counsel at Protect Democracy and former Solicitor General of Florida

RSVP is required for entry. Please RSVP by July 9th, 2025. Members of the press are welcome to attend but must contact the organizers in advance.

*Members of Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition. Additional speakers will be announced as they are confirmed. Keep Our Republic’s Article III Coalition consists of more than 40 former U.S. District and U.S. Circuit Judges, appointed by Presidents Carter, Reagan, H.W. Bush, Clinton, W. Bush and Obama, and are almost evenly divided between those appointed by a Republican President and those appointed by a Democratic President.