Dear Friends and Supporters:

Last year, 2009, turned out to be a very good year for the Federalist Society in spite of the economy – in fact, one of our best ever. We did more with less by taking advantage of the infrastructure we had developed the last 27 years and were therefore able to ensure undiminished productivity in our efforts.

The demand for our programs on law school campuses and in cities across the country continued to grow. We were able to fulfill this demand and conduct more events than ever before by asking more of our volunteers. Not only has our pool of volunteers expanded over the years, but we now have among our volunteers some of the premier lawyers in the country – many just returning to the private sector after serving in critical government appointments, some just now reaching the pinnacle of their legal careers after being part of the Federalist Society network since their student days, and many student volunteers who are at the top of their law school classes.

At every level – at law schools, in legal centers, in state courts and in the current debate of federal policies – the Federalist Society’s growth and vigor over the last year has enabled us to contribute even more to fostering the principles of limited government, the separation of powers, individual freedom and responsibility, and the rule of law. There is simply no other organization that can bring constitutional issues to the fore with such credibility and no other organization that can help citizen-lawyers become actively involved and effectively engaged in the discussion of how best to secure the blessings of liberty in the days ahead.

Our principles of limited, constitutional government are facing nearly unprecedented challenges. But we believe there is cause for optimism about the future, in spite of current efforts to increase the size of government. Part of the basis for this optimism is the legal talent involved with the Federalist Society; these lawyers participate actively in the civic life of our nation and thereby improve the legal culture over time. Despite setbacks we may witness on a given day, the commitment of so many of our members who are putting their talents to work demonstrates the potential we have for shaping the future direction of the law. Continuing to build that network is the best strategy for preserving the rule of law in this country.

The Bradley Foundation recognized the impact of the Federalist Society on the legal culture when it awarded the 2009 Bradley Prize to the founders and leaders of the Society.

Over 45,000 law students, lawyers, academics, judges, and policy leaders are involved in the Society’s wide variety of programs. As I pointed out earlier, in the past year the Society was able to bring our programs to the largest number of law students in our 27 year history. Participation in our Lawyers Chapters, Practice Groups, and special projects such as the State Courts Project and the International Law & American Sovereignty Project have also expanded significantly. The expansion of our Faculty Division is beginning to pay off in identifying and recruiting conservative and libertarian role models and mentors in the academy. Indeed, despite a slight decrease in revenue, the Federalist Society has just concluded one of our most impressive years of programming and growth. We anticipate another exciting year as we continue to pursue our mission to change the legal culture.

The Federalist Society is a community of grassroots intellectuals who willingly give their time, talent, and financial support to promote the rule of law. Thank you for your continuing commitment.

Sincerely,
Eugene B. Meyer
President