Federal Judges to Discuss Anti-Semitism at Annual Conference

Next week, federal judges will address anti-Semitism during their annual convention, marking an unusual panel discussion typically reserved for individual speakers, as discovered by Fox News Digital.

U.S. District Judge Roy Altman is set to moderate this unprecedented panel. He believes it’s crucial to tackle the apparent uptick in anti-Semitism following the Hamas attacks on Israel earlier this year. This panel is a part of the Federalist Society’s annual National Bar Conference.

Altman stressed, “This dialogue about faith, understanding, and moral responsibility is really timely.” He added that it resonates with the values that the West cherishes, recalling the late Judge Robert Bork’s commitment to moral clarity and the power of open discussions.

The event has been named in honor of Bork for several years. Interestingly, he played a significant role in combating law firms that excluded Jewish attorneys, according to testimonies from his colleagues in 1987.

This year’s panel will feature seven judges appointed by Trump, alongside another appointee from George W. Bush and a Texas Supreme Court justice. Altman, who is notably a Jewish judge in Florida, mentioned that he organized trips for federal judges of various faiths to visit Israel after the attacks on October 7.

He noted that while discussions around Israel have largely happened on campuses, it’s become evident that legal issues arise from the heated conversations necessitating judicial scrutiny.

In the wake of the deadly attack in Israel, there has been a resurgence of anti-Israel protests across U.S. college campuses. Protesters argue that Israel has been indiscriminately harming civilians in the Gaza Strip; however, the Israeli government maintains that it warns before attacking, targeting Hamas militants specifically.

Altman articulated some of the legal questions being raised: “Is Israel breaking the laws of war? Is it considered an apartheid state? Is it occupying unauthorized land?” He pointed out that these are legal inquiries and believes that federal judges are well-equipped to assess the relevant facts against the law.

Some judges in the panel participated in Altman’s Israel visits. The Federalist Society has indicated that these justices will share personal encounters discussing anti-Semitic sentiments with individuals from various faiths, and they aim to delve into First Amendment implications surrounding anti-Semitism.

There’s an ongoing dialogue regarding free speech as the Trump administration targets non-citizens whose speech is critical of Israel, arguing that it might compromise national security by appearing supportive of Hamas.

Altman mentioned that there’s a noticeable trend on campuses where pro-Israel sentiments are often suppressed. For instance, New York University recently canceled a lecture by Jewish legal scholar Ilya Shapiro over safety concerns stemming from protests.

“I was genuinely taken aback to discover how many young people, particularly on college campuses, hold misguided views about Israel—the only Jewish state, its Middle Eastern role, history, and origins. The current discussions feel less like debates and more like one-sided narratives,” Altman reflected.