The Courts & Moral Courage: An Evening with Jeh Johnson, Lewis Kaplan, and Paul Engelmayer

To lead with moral courage is never easy, especially in the face of high stakes and intense scrutiny. But this core value of the International House community underpins the inner workings of the entire U.S. judicial system, in which thousands of judges, lawyers, and public servants go to work each day in service of the Constitution and their fellow citizens.

On March 24, I-House residents, trustees, and guests welcomed three distinguished speakers to Davis Hall for a conversation about the U.S. justice system, what it takes to be a legal professional today, and the role of moral courage in upholding the rule of law. The panel included Jeh Johnson, the Hon. Lewis Kaplan, and the Hon. Paul Engelmayer, in a rare fireside chat featuring three public servants with long and storied careers in the federal judiciary.

Johnson, who served as the event’s moderator, previously held positions as both Secretary of Homeland Security and General Counsel to the Department of Defense during the Obama administration. Prior to that, he served as General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force in the Clinton Administration and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (SDNY). He currently co-chairs the Board of Trustees at Columbia University.

In his opening remarks, Johnson welcomed guests and thanked Judges Kaplan and Engelmayer for agreeing to visit International House, noting what a rare opportunity it is to hear from two sitting federal judges. He opened the evening’s conversation with a question about jury selection and how everyday people play an important role in the justice system.

The evening’s wide-ranging discussion went on to include reflections on everything from the risks of cameras in the courtroom and AI-generated legal briefs to the merits of lifetime appointments for federal judges.

Judge Kaplan, a Senior U.S. District Judge (SDNY), has presided over a wide range of complex, politically sensitive, and nationally significant cases. He was nominated to the bench by President Clinton in 1994, taking senior status in 2011. His legal career has spanned decades of public service and private practice. As a lawyer, he spent over two decades at Paul, Weiss, where he became a partner.

Judge Engelmayer also serves as a U.S. District Judge (SDNY), and has enjoyed a similarly storied career in the federal judiciary. He was nominated to the bench by President Obama in 2011. Prior to his appointment as a federal judge, he served as both a federal prosecutor and in private practice as a partner for WilmerHale. He argued four cases before the Supreme Court, and began his legal career clerking for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

I-House President & CEO Sebastian Fries offered closing remarks, thanking the panelists for their participation and reminding guests to go forward with moral courage. Following the event, panelists, residents, and guests continued the conversation at a reception in the Hall of History.