One Day Law School for Journalists 2026
One Day Law School for Journalists addresses the relationship between journalists and the courts, and the impact on information shared with the public. It is a designed to support journalists and others in the media who face the challenge of reporting on the court system without a law degree. Speakers include a wide range of lawyers, judges, and law professors.
All are invited to attend even if you are not a journalist, reporter or blogger, but just interested in the judicial and legal system. Thank you for all who joined us for the One Day Law School for Journalists. Resources and recordings can be found below.
2026 Recap:
9:30 - 10:45am: Appellate Courts 101
Learn what appellate courts are, what to look for in oral arguments, and how to understand judicial decisions better. With speakers:
- Justice David Wecht — Pennsylvania Supreme Court
- Judge Lori Dumas — Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
- Judge Theodore McKee — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- Ilana Eisenstein — U.S. Chair, Litigation, DLA Piper
- Robert Heim — Chair Emeritus, PMC & Special Counsel, Dechert LLP
10:50 - 11:50am: Sentencing 101
Learn how federal and state sentencing guidelines work, what factors judges must consider, and the roles judges and attorneys play in the sentencing process. With speakers:
- Judge Megan Sullivan — Pennsylvania Superior Court
- Judge L. Felipe Restrepo — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit & Vice Chair, U.S. Sentencing Commission
- Anthony Carissimi — Assistant U.S. Attorney, EDPA
- Leigh Skipper — Partner, Duane Morris & Former Chief Federal Defender, EDPA
- David Osborne — Assistant U.S. Attorney, EDPA & Former Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
12:00 - 12:50pm: Lunch Keynote from Rick Tulsky
Award-winning journalist Rick Tulsky has dedicated his career to exposing flaws in the criminal justice system and exploring ways to improve it. His reporting has appeared in publications including the Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the San Jose Mercury News.
His newest book, Injustice Town: A Corrupt City, a Wrongfully Convicted Man, and a Struggle for Freedom (Pegasus Books, 2026), examines a wrongful conviction and the fight for justice. Tulsky's work has earned more than two dozen national journalism awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, and he is a 1984 graduate of Temple Law School.
1:00 - 1:55pm: Judicial Conduct and Speech
Learn how judicial codes of conduct govern judges’ behavior, including the rules surrounding public statements, political activity, and extrajudicial speech. Explore how judges balance free expression with the need to maintain fairness, impartiality, and public trust in the justice system. With speakers:
- Judge Vic Stabile — Pennsylvania Superior Court
- James J. Alfini - Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law Houston
2:00 - 3:00pm: Law v. Reality: What Are Journalists' Rights?
Learn about the legal rights and protections afforded to journalists, compare them with the challenges reporters face in practice, and examine how press freedom is applied in real-world situations. With speaker:
- Isabella Salomão Nascimento — Ballard Spahr