Events Detail

The Courts and Liberal Democracy  

A Discussion with Judge Stephen Williams

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

  Harold Furchtgott-Roth and Judge Williams

According to Senior Circuit Judge Stephen Williams, a society can be expected to evolve into liberal democracy, including private property and the rule of law, only if producer groups can organize and exert enough influence to prevent government predation.  But groups strong enough to resist government predation are likely to be strong enough to mobilize government for predation against others.  The resultant rent-seeking society may hollow out liberal democracy to a barely recognizable shell.  Could courts at all offset this tendency, either by a tilt against rent-seeking in review of agency decisions, or by a revival of the rule against “partial legislation”? 

The Center for Economics of the Internet was pleased to present a scholarly discussion with Judge Stephen Williams, Senior Circuit Judgeon the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Harold Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center of Economics of the Internet, introduced and moderated the discussion.

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 15th St, NW

6th Floor

Washington, DC 20005