I have personal experience with FREE conferences, having attended several as a lecturer and as a participant. There was a wide diversity of views among both the speakers and the participants, and former officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations lectured, as did judges, academics, scientists, and environmental advocates.
The lengthy discussion periods were spirited and thoughtful–so much so that if these conferences were designed to “indoctrinate” judges (and law professors, who also attended), they certainly failed.
Indeed, if federal judges who spend their entire careers listening to persuasive arguments by individuals paid substantial sums to change the judges’ opinions are so easily swayed, these sorts of judicial conferences are the least of our worries.
— Jonathan Adler
