Federalist Society

The Gonzaga Federalist Society (GFS) is a group of conservative/libertarian students, faculty and staff interested in the current state of legal order, recognizing that much of law school teaching and, in turn, the legal profession, is strongly dominated by liberal ideology, which advocates a central uniform society.

The Federalist Society was founded upon such principles as: 

1. The state exists to preserve freedom;
2. The separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution;
3. It is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is – not what it should be.
4. The main goal of the Federalist Society is to promote an awareness of these ideals fostering civil debates amongst students, faculty, and other members of the legal profession.

Annual activities

The society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities.

This entails reordering priorities within the legal system so as to place a premium on individual liberty, traditional values, judges, law students, and professors.

Recent debates hosted by the society include:

• Richard Sanders, Justice Washington State Supreme Court. Title “The Battle For The State Constitution: A Dissenter’s View"
• Mike Ramsey, Professor of Law University of San Diego.  Title “National Security v. Civil Rights: What Effects Should September 11 Have on Our Liberties?”
• Debate Between George Ahrend and Ann Coulter, Constitutional Attorney/Syndicated Columnist/Author. Title “Patriotic or Offensive: Should Schools Be Prevented From Using the Phrase God Bless America?”
• Debate Between Speedy Rice, Professor of Law at Gonzaga University and John Eastman Professor of Law Chapman University. Title “Military Tribunals: Shredding the Constitution or Legitimate War Powers?”

Membership

Membership in the society is open to any student at Gonzaga University School of Law, as well as interested faculty or administrative members. There are currently no membership fees.