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2025 Florida Chapters Conference

January 31 — February 1, 2025
Register
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

 

Friday, January 31 - Saturday, February 1, 2025

The Federalist Society is thrilled to host our 11th Annual Florida Chapters Conference on January 31 - February 1, 2025. Join lawyers chapters and student chapters from across Florida for our marquee statewide event.

 

FEATURING

FRIDAY

1:00 PM | Registration Begins

2:00 PM | The Legacy of Judicial Appointments in Florida: A Conversation with Hon. Jeb Bush

Panel | Retrospectives on 25 years of Judicial Reform in Florida

Panel | Text, History, and . . . Tradition? What historical evidence constitutes ‘tradition’ and how ought originalist judges to use it?

6:00 PM | Cocktail Reception*

7:00 PM | Banquet Dinner*

 *Childcare options available here: https://fedsoc.org/events/2025-florida-conference-childcare

SATURDAY

8:00 AM | Breakfast

Panel | The Future of Executive Power

Panel | Modern Lawfare and the American Democracy

Luncheon

Afternoon Break

6:00 PM | Fireworks + Dessert Reception at Epcot*

*Separately ticketed event

AND MORE!

 

CONFERENCE PRICING

Register by December 13 to receive an early bird discount!

Student Member: $300 $250
Government Employee Member: $350 $300
Member: $400 $350
Non-Member: $600
All Conference tickets include a ticket to the banquet.

Guest Banquet Ticket: $200

If you are interested in childcare during the banquet dinner, register your child here: https://fedsoc.org/events/2025-florida-conference-childcare. Cost includes arts and crafts, games, and dinner and snacks. Pre-registration is required by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17th.

  

Dessert + Fireworks Reception (not included in conference tickets):

$75 Adult
$50 Child - children under two years of age are free

Dietary restrictions or allergies? Please notify [email protected]

 

CLE AND CJE

10.5 Hours of General CLE in Florida available. CJE credit is expected.

 

SPONSORSHIPS

If you are interested in sponsoring the Federalist Society's activity in Florida, please reach out to Abbie Kepto at [email protected].

 

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

Room reservations are now closed.

The Federalist Society has a room block at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort for conference attendees. The discounted rate is $339 per night.

Reservations can be made by calling Disney Group Reservations Phone Team at (407) 939-4686 or online at the link below.

https://mydisneygroup.com/flstatewideconf2025/

 

The deadline to register and recive a refund is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 27. No refunds will be issued after the deadline.

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1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Registration

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Opening Fireside Chat

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Newport Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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Description

Featuring:

  • Hon. Jeb Bush, Former Governor, Florida
  • Moderator: Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and Former General Counsel to Governor Jeb Bush, 2002 - 2007

Speakers

2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Panel 1: Retrospectives on 25 years of Judicial Reform in Florida

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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Description

Nearly twenty five years after the election of Governor Jeb Bush, the Florida state courts have transformed. Previously, many state judges had a more activist, progressive view of the role of a judge. Today, many state judges hold originalist and textualists views of judicial interpretation. Our panel will consider the last 25 years of judicial appointments in Florida, discussing how the roles of the executive, the JNC, and the conservative legal movement have contributed to these transformations. They will discuss how the Florida Supreme Court today differs from the Court that ruled on Bush v. Gore in 2000. 

Featuring:

  • Jason Gonzalez, Shareholder, Lawson Huck Gonzalez, PLLC and Former General Counsel to Governor Charlie Crist, 2008
  • Ryan Newman, General Counsel to Governor Ron DeSantis, 2021 - 2025
  • Daniel Nordby, Partner, Shutts & Bowen LLP, Former General Counsel to Governor Rick Scott, 2017 - 2019
  • Jesse Panuccio, Partner, Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Former General Counsel to Governor Rick Scott, 2012 - 2013
  • Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez, Shareholder, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC and Former General Counsel to Governor Jeb Bush, 2002 - 2007
  • Moderator: Hon. T. Kent Wetherell II, Judge, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida and Former Deputy Solicitor General of Florida, 1999-2002

Speakers

4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Break

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Panel 2: Text, History, and... Tradition? What historical evidence constitutes ‘tradition’ and how ought originalist judges to use it?

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, 32830

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Description

In United States v. Rahimi, the Supreme Court applied Bruen’s test for interpreting the Second Amendment to reject a facial challenge to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8). The Chief Justice’s majority opinion emphasized that “the appropriate analysis involves considering whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition.” But of the eight Justices that made up the majority, six either wrote separately or joined a separate opinion to discuss their views of the required historical inquiry. That inquiry, sometimes referred to as the “text, history, and tradition” approach, raises important subsidiary questions: What type of historical evidence should courts consider, and from what historical period? What is the role of “tradition” as compared to “text and history,” and what should a judge do if these sources of evidence conflict? What, if any, is the role of liquidation? And how does all of this interact with precedent?

Featuring:

  • Jeffrey Harris, Partner, Consovoy McCarthy PLLC
  • Prof. Sherif Girgis, Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame Law School 
  • Prof. Gary Lawson, Levin, Mabie & Levin Professor of Law, University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • Hon. David Stras, Judge, United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • Moderator: Hon. Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, Judge, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Speakers

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Grand Harbor Lobby
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Banquet Dinner

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Grand Harbor Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Grand Harbor Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
State Judicial Breakfast Meeting

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Panel 3: The Future of Executive Power

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Newport Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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Description

In recent years the Supreme Court has decided critically important executive power and administrative law cases. From agency deference and adjudication, to presidential immunity, to “jaw boning”—what does it all mean for the future of the presidency and the administrative state the president oversees? How might the country’s new president approach these issues?

Featuring:

  • Steven Engel, Partner, Dechert LLP
  • Jack Goldsmith, Learned Hand Professor of Law at Harvard University
  • Sarah Harris, Partner, Williams & Connolly LLP
  • Moderator: Hon. Chad Readler, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

Speakers

11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Panel 4: Modern Lawfare and the American Democracy

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Newport Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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Description

The courtroom has emerged as the new battleground for political wars. Increasingly, political candidates are looking to government agencies and judges to target adverse views and ideologies. This panel will examine the genesis of modern lawfare, explain its consequences, and then offer proposed solutions to mediate, eliminate, or ameliorate its effects.

Featuring:

  • Mike Berry, Executive Director, Center for Litigation, America First Policy Institute
  • Anna Bower, Senior Editor, Lawfare Media
  • Mike Davis, Founder, MRDLaw
  • Katie Phang, Anchor & Host of The Katie Phang Show, MSNBC
  • Jesus Suarez, Partner, Continental PLLC
  • Moderator: Hon. Jason Reding Quiñones, Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida

Speakers

12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lunch

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Grand Harbor Ballroom
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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2:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Break

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Dessert Reception and Fireworks Viewing

2025 Florida Chapters Conference

   
Epcot® - American Adventure Rotunda
Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort
1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

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