Ideology and Political Bias in Large Law Firms and Their Amicus Work

The Portland, Oregon Lawyer’s Chapter is honored to welcome Professor Derek T. Muller of the University of Notre Dame Law School for a timely and thought-provoking discussion on "Ideology and Political Bias in Large Firms and Their Amicus Work."

Professor Muller is a nationally recognized scholar in election law, federal courts, and legal education. His prolific scholarship has appeared in leading law reviews and major media outlets, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times. He has testified before Congress and currently serves as the co-reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law on Election Litigation.

His recent study, published in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, analyzes over 850 pro bono amicus briefs filed by the nation’s largest law firms in U.S. Supreme Court cases. The findings are striking: 64% of these briefs supported liberal positions, while only 31% supported conservative ones, with the disparity even more pronounced in high-profile cases like Dobbs, Bostock, and Bruen, where 95% of Big Law briefs leaned liberal.

As debates over institutional neutrality and ideological diversity intensify, Professor Muller’s research offers a compelling lens through which to examine the legal profession’s role in shaping public policy and jurisprudence.

5:30 p.m. - Doors open for social

6:00 p.m. - Speaker begins

We hope you can join us!

 RSVP:       fed.soc.pdx@gmail.com

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.