By ANDREA C. TURNER

Photograph by Andrea C. Turner
Panelists Pete Williams, Colin Swearingen and Jonathan H. Adler, JD

John Carroll University (JCU) hosted “Looking Behind, Peering Ahead: What’s Going on at the Supreme Court?” on September 30, in JCU’s Dolan Science Center Donahue Auditorium. Distinguished panelists Pete Williams and Jonathan H. Adler, JD, analyzed past and potential future actions of the US Supreme Court. Colin Swearingen, professor of political science at JCU, served as moderator.

Approximately 125 people attended the free public event, including JCU students who are matriculated in a three-year undergraduate pre-law program. After completion, these students are eligible to attend either the 3-year law program at Case Western Reserve University School of Law or Cleveland State University College of Law for a total of 6 years toward a law degree.

Williams, a former Supreme Court correspondent for NBC for 29 years, provided an in-depth perspective of the nation’s highest court’s recent rulings. At NBC, Williams worked with longtime “Meet the Press” host Tim Russert, a 1972 graduate of JCU. Russert hired Williams to work at NBC and, during their 15 years together, Russert inspired Williams to engage with JCU. Williams is a 3-time Emmy award winner and a former press representative for Vice President Dick Cheney who spent time working in the Bush administration.

Bonnie Gunzenhauser, PhD, JCU’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained that Williams delivered the 2021 commencement address whereby he received an honorary degree. That prompted the university to continue its relationship with Williams after he retired in 2023. As its journalist-in-residence, Williams now gives guest lectures, mentors students academically and professionally, collaborates with faculty, and offers public programs for one week on campus each spring and fall semester. A jazz aficionado, Williams also does a stint on the college radio station, WJCU 88.7 FM.

Adler, John Verheij Memorial Professor of Law and founding director of the Coleman P. Burke Center for Environmental Law at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, also shared his views on the Supreme Court’s rulings and their ramifications. Adler is the author of seven books, a contributing editor to National Review online, and a regular contributor to the popular legal blog, The Volokh Conspiracy.

The panel discussed the rulings on presidential immunity, the Chevron deference (a landmark decision is the field of administrative law — the law governing regulatory agencies), and Corner Post (challenging the Federal Reserve Board’s 2011 rule on fees associated with using debit cards, applying the default federal six-year statute of limitations). Williams praised Congress for its bi-partisan support in passing the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022.

The panel predicted that future Supreme Court rulings will involve transgender medical treatment and parental rights claims, as well as vaping of flavored e-cigarettes. When asked if Congress would ever consider changes to the electoral college, Williams replied, “Don’t hold your breath.” He explained that while the idea of “one person, one vote” has lots of public support, many states like his home state of Wyoming prefer to keep the status quo as they have more electoral votes than other more populous states.