National Security and Rule of Law
National Security and the Rule of Law
Friday, April 17, 2026 from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
12th Floor
This panel will examine pressing questions in national security law, focusing on the application and potential erosion of the law of armed conflict in modern military operations, including recent controversial strikes and unconventional tactics. Panelists will explore core rule of law issues, such as whether service members must refuse unlawful orders and what considerations drive such refusals. The discussion will also consider broader strategic and institutional issues, including the future of the rules based international order, the role of lawyers in the modern military, and the impact of leadership rhetoric on diversity and military lethality within the armed forces.
Panelists:
- Prof. Franklin D. Rosenblatt, Mississippi College School of Law
- Prof. Brenner Fissell, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
- Prof. Margaret Donovan, Yale Law School
- Col. Howard Shrum, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
- Prof. Christopher J. Hart, University of Baltimore School of Law
Moderator: Prof. Nienke Grossman, University of Baltimore School of Law