Following a successful annual gathering in Lansing last February, we are excited to gather this fall for a timely discussion on election law. Ahead of the General Election, this forum will also provide an opportunity for meaningful collaboration among colleagues committed to protecting the integrity and public trust of our electoral and judicial systems.

The conference will offer thought-provoking presentations, meaningful discussion, and opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state.

Visit our Seminars section to learn more about the upcoming Judicial Forum on Election Law and how to register to attend.

About us:
The Great Lakes Democracy Initiative is a nonpartisan forum dedicated to strengthening democratic principles within our judicial system. The Initiative brings together judges, legal scholars, practitioners, and civic leaders to engage in thoughtful dialogue about the role of courts in a representative democracy.

Through judicial conferences, academic symposia, and professional networking events, the Great Lakes Democracy Initiative examines how interpretive approaches shape the law’s impact on everyday people. Our work focuses on fostering discussion about jurisprudence that recognizes the Constitution and statutes as living instruments designed to serve a democratic society—not merely as rigid textual commands divorced from contemporary realities.

The Initiative does not advocate for outcomes in specific cases. Instead, it provides a space for serious scholarship and collegial exchange on how courts can uphold democratic accountability, protect individual rights, and ensure that the legal system remains accessible and responsive to the public it serves.

The Initiative seeks to promote a judiciary that reflects democratic values, respects institutional legitimacy, and understands its vital role in sustaining public trust in our system of justice."