Dear Friends,

We are delighted to share this inaugural update from the Edley Center on Law and Democracy at UC Berkeley Law. The Center launched at the start of this academic year, at a time when many worried about the resilience of American democracy. Named for Berkeley's beloved former Dean, Chris Edley, the Center will produce and disseminate actionable research aimed at strengthening American democracy. Given what we have seen in other countries that have suffered democratic backsliding, our initial focus will be on abuse of executive power. Our goal is to make a tangible contribution to the defense of democracy, not just to produce interesting research.

Fall talks

The Center's inaugural events were a series of five panel discussions about various threats to American democracy. Topics covered included presidential power, the role of the courts, and the role of both old and new media, and speakers included some of the most creative thinkers about democracy from the law school and across the Berkeley campus. You can watch videos of the sessions here.

White papers

The Center is in the process of preparing white papers on various issues relating to democracy, with a focus on democratic institutions and the rule of law. The goals of those white papers are to leverage the expertise housed here at UC Berkeley to make a practical contribution to our thinking about democracy. We also hope that white papers might serve as foundations for the Center's involvement in future advocacy or litigation efforts. We will share white papers via this newsletter as they become available. Initial topics include unilateral presidential power to cut expenditures, limits on presidential tariff authority, and possible legal limits on politicizing the civil service. 

Executive director search

The Center will soon be formally launching a search for its inaugural executive director. The executive director will be crucial to all aspects of the Center’s operation, including directing its substantive work, overseeing it administratively during a time of growth, and developing partnerships both within and outside the university. If you might be interested in this role, or if you know someone who might be, please email us at dfarber@law.berkeley.edu and gould@berkeley.edu and we'll be sure to share application information when it becomes available.

Supporting our work

As we launch and grow the Center, we would benefit from your help in spreading the word to friends and colleagues who you think might be interested in our work. We'd also be grateful for any contribution that you can make to support the Center. In these early days, as we prepare to bring on an executive director and then additional staff, your support is important in ensuring that we establish a strong foundation for the future. And please forward this email to anyone who might be interested. 

With best regards for the holiday and new year,

Dan Farber & Jonathan Gould

Faculty Co-Directors