2026 Constitution and Citizenship Day Summit

DATE
Wednesday, September 16, 2026

TIME
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

LOCATION
New York Law School
185 West Broadway,
New York, NY 10013

Please RSVP by September 10, 2026.

As our nation commemorates 250 years of independence, the Summit offers an opportunity to reflect on the enduring principles of constitutional democracy, the rule of law, and the essential role civic education plays in preparing informed and engaged citizens. Together, judges, attorneys, educators, law students, and civic leaders will explore how these foundational values continue to shape our institutions and inspire the next chapter of American democracy.

The program will open with a keynote conversation on the essential role of independent journalism in civic education, featuring 60 Minutes Correspondent, Bill Whitaker, with The Honorable Joseph Bianco of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and The Honorable Victor Marrero of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Co-Chairs of the Justice for All Initiative, and moderated by New York Law School Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell.

The keynote conversation will be followed by a series of probing thematic sessions and a civics “schmooze” connecting participants with organizations advancing innovative approaches to civic engagement. The day will end with a session on comparative civics education featuring a conversation that includes Justice Albie Sachs, a founding member of the Constitutional Court of South Africa.

We invite you to join this important gathering as we consider the ideas, partnerships, and innovations that can strengthen civic life, deepen civic understanding, and help advance the promise of American democracy for generations to come.

In collaboration with:
The Honorable Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All: Courts and the Community Initiative––The Civic Education Project for the Federal Courts of the Second Circuit
NYLS Center for New York City and State Law

See a preliminary event program.

See the New York Law School Law Review Call for Papers on Civics Education, the Constitution, and Citizenship.

Read more about last year’s Inaugural Constitution and Citizenship Day Summit.