FEBRUARY 12, 2024

Upper School’s Case Studies in U.S. Public Policy elective recently welcomed the honorable Judge Jed Rakoff for a seminar. Case Studies, a discussion-based course, encourages students to challenge each other’s assumptions about democratic values and practices, and draw their own conclusions about what “democracy” means in America. During his visit, Judge Rakoff shared insights into his career for students who might be considering a future in law, and his role as a federal judge in our democracy. In addition, Judge Rakoff discussed civil vs. criminal cases, distinctions between federal and state court systems, interpretations and applications of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and discrepancies between state and federal laws.