John Paul Stevens Lecture
The annual John Paul Stevens Lecture brings a distinguished jurist to Colorado Law to discuss judging and the state of the judiciary. United States Associate Justice John Paul Stevens delivered the inaugural lecture in September 2011. The signature fireside chat format of the lecture presents an opportunity for law students, lawyers, and community members to hear about the jurists’ approach to the bench, career, legal philosophy, and law school advice.
This year's 15th Annual Stevens Lecture will feature Judge Carlton W. Reeves, a United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time: 5:00pm
Location: Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom, 2450 Kittredge Loop Dr. Boulder, CO 80305
Additional details and the topic of discussion will be announced at a later date! Please visit our event page below for the most up to date information.
Previous Stevens Lecture Speakers
The fourteenth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by the Honorable Roopali H. Desai of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on October 28, 2025. Jude Desai's lecture was entitled "The Legal Landscape of the Right To Vote." On the occasion of the Voting Rights Act's 60th birthday, Judge Desai and Professor Deep Gulasekaram, Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, discussed the role that state and federal governments and our three-branch system play in protecting free and fair elections in the United States.
A recording of this lecture was not made available to the public.
The thirteenth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by the Honorable Stephen A. Higginson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Presiding Judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review on October 24, 2024. Judge Higginson’s lecture wasentitled "The Nuremberg Trials: Lessons for Law 鶹Ժ, Lawyers, and Judges." He wasthe first former law clerk to Justice Byron R. White to deliver the Stevens Lecture. In conversation with Professor P. Deep Gulasekaram, Profess of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, Judge Higginson discussed his research on the Nuremberg Trials, focusing on their contemporary and continuing relevance for advocates and judges today.
Watch the Recording:
The twelfth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna of the Hawaii Supreme Court on October 26, 2023. The lecture was entitled “State Constitutional Law: The Critical Course Missing from Most Law School Curricula ” and Justice McKenna was the first Asian American and member of the LBGTQ community to deliver the Stevens Lecture. Professor Suzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, and Justice McKenna engaged in a fireside chat about the historical and continued critical importance of state constitutions in the protection of civil, criminal, and environmental rights, especially considering the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision and the existential threat of climate change. Justice McKenna also offered practical advice to law students and lawyers in their presentation of constitutional questions.
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The eleventh annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Chief Justice Angela R. Riley of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Supreme Court of Oklahoma and Professor of Law at the University of California, Los Angeles on October 18, 2022. An internationally esteemed jurist and scholar, Justice Riley became the youngest person and first woman to be elected as justice of the Supreme Court of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma in 2003 and in 2010 was elected as Chief Justice. In conversation with Suzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, Chief Justice Riley explained the role of tribal courts in ensuring justice in Indian country.
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The tenth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Judge Bernice Donald of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on October 19, 2021. The Honorable Bernice B. Donald spoke on "Defining the Rule of Law.” Opening remarks were given by Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss, Professor Suzette Malveaux, Director of the Byron White Center and Provost Professor of Law, and Kathryn A. Starnella, President-Elect of the Colorado Women's Bar Association, a co-sponsor of the event.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
Watch the Recording:
The ninth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered virtually by the Former Justice Zak Yacoob of the Constitutional Court of South Africa on October 22, 2020. Justice Yacoob was the first international justice to present the Stevens Lecture. He is well known nationally and internationally for his contributions to the socioeconomic rights and jurisprudence of South Africa. Justice Yacoob shared his thoughts on the role of the courts, social justice, and racial equality. His remarks and virtual fireside chat with Suzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, were followed by a Q&A with Colorado Law students.
No photos were taken of this event due to it being held virtually.
Watch the Recording:
The eighth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by the Associate Justice Elena Kagan of the United States Supreme Court on October 22, 2019 at Macky Auditorium. Justice Kagan answered questions in a fireside chat format, moderated by Suzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center, followed by a Q&A session with Colorado Law students.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
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The seventh annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by the Honorable Carlos F. Lucero, Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on September 27, 2018. The lecture was entitled "A Constitutional Call to Arms and Reflections on a Judicial Career” and focused on contemporary challenges to the Constitution and the role of lawyers in supporting and defending the Constitution.
The lecture included a Q&A discussion withSuzette Malveaux, Provost Professor of Law and Director of the Byron White Center. Lucero also responded to questions from student leaders:Leah Fugere(’20), President of the Christian Legal Society,Nicholas Monck(’19), President of the Student Bar Association, andHannah Regan-Smith(‘19), Editor-in-Chief of theUniversity of Colorado Law Review.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
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The sixth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Former Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman of the State of New York on September 26, 2017. The lecture took place at the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver. and the topic was “Changing the Dialogue on Access to Justice.”
No photos or recording available.
The fifth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Supreme Court on September 2, 2016. She participated in a Q&A conversation with more than 1,500 attendees.The audience included students, faculty and community members from the metro area. Additionally, high school students traveled to Boulder from all over Colorado to meet with Justice Sotomayor and attend the event.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
No video recording available.
The fourth annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Senior Associate Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court on October 1, 2014. His topic was constitutional interpretation. More than 1,500 people attended the live lecture at Macky Auditorium, and nearly 400 people watched the live stream at University of Wyoming Law School, William & Mary Law School, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, Western State Colorado University, Ridgway High School, and inside the Wittemyer Courtroom at the University of Colorado Law School.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
No video recording available.
The third annual John Paul Stevens Lecture was delivered by Former AssociateJustice Sandra Day O’Connorof the United States Supreme Court on September 17, 2013. Nearly 1,000 people watched the lecture live, while remote audiences enjoyed the lecture from Wolf Law, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Mesa University.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
No video recording available.
The second annual Stevens Lecture was given by AssociateJustice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the United States Supreme Court on September 19, 2012. Nearly 1,000 people watched the lecture live, while remote audiences enjoyed the lecture from Wolf Law, Colorado College, Fort Lewis College, and Colorado Mesa University.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
Watch the Recording:
The Inaugural John Paul Stevens Lecture was given by Associate Justice John Paul Stevens of the United States Supreme Court on September 22, 2011.
Photo Gallery (coming soon)
No video recording available.
