IGP Across the Aisle Discusses Role of Federal Judges

On April 9, the Institute of Global Politics (IGP) and the Office of the President cohosted an installment of the Across the Aisle series, which features discussions between prominent domestic and global leaders with opposing viewpoints. These discussions aim to model and highlight for students the value of respectful civil discourse while facilitating dialogue across differences.

Acting President of Columbia University Claire Shipman CC ‘86, SIPA ‘94 welcomed the audience, followed by SIPA Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo, who introduced the panelists. The Hon. Roy K. Altman, IGP US District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida and IGP Carnegie Distinguished Fellow, spoke with the Hon. Steve Higginson, Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in a conversation moderated by Jamal Greene, Dwight Professor of Law at Columbia Law School. 

Judge Altman, appointed by President Donald Trump, and Judge Higginson, appointed by President Barack Obama, explored the role of federal judges as defined by the US Constitution, delving into the ways judges influence society and participate in public discourse. Together, the panelists addressed the purpose and function of the judiciary in American democracy.