Bench Bar Conference 2025
by United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The Bench Bar Conference 2025 is a collaborative event organized by the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, with support from the Massachusetts Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Scheduled for September 11-12, 2025, at the Boston Marriott Newton in Newton, MA, this conference aims to foster dialogue and cooperation between the judiciary and legal practitioners.
The conference agenda includes a variety of sessions covering critical legal topics. Highlights include a plenary session featuring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in conversation with Senior U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris, discussing the Supreme Court's recent and upcoming terms. Breakout sessions will address challenges in higher education, complex civil litigation, developments in artificial intelligence, and international law issues, among others.
Attendees will have opportunities for networking during the opening reception and luncheon. Notable speakers include Melissa Murray, Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, and Michael J. Klarman, Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History at Harvard Law School. The event also features roundtable discussions and panels with esteemed judges and legal experts.
This conference is ideal for legal professionals seeking to stay informed on current legal developments, engage with peers, and gain insights from leading figures in the judiciary and academia.
Categories
Speakers(42)
Alex Whiting
Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School
Alex Whiting is a Professor of Practice at Harvard Law School and a former prosecutor in The Hague.
Allison D. Burroughs
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Allison D. Burroughs is a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Amir Farhadi
Senior Associate at Foley Hoag LLP
Amir Farhadi is a Senior Associate at Foley Hoag LLP.
Angel Kelley
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Angel Kelley serves as a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Angela Onwuachi-Willig
Dean and Ryan Roth Gallo Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law
Angela Onwuachi-Willig is the Dean and Ryan Roth Gallo Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law.
Bill Abely
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief, Criminal Division at U.S. Attorney's Office
Bill Abely is an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Criminal Division.
Brian E. Murphy
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Brian E. Murphy serves as a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Catherine Scott
Partner at Morgan, Brown & Joy
Catherine Scott is a Partner at Morgan, Brown & Joy and President of the Federal Bar Association, Massachusetts Chapter.
Claudia Lagos
Partner at Scully & Lagos
Claudia Lagos is a Partner at Scully & Lagos, focusing on criminal defense.
David D’Addio
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Deputy Chief, Criminal Division at U.S. Attorney's Office
David D’Addio is an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
David Lowy
General Counsel at University of Massachusetts
David Lowy is the General Counsel for the University of Massachusetts and a retired Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Denise J. Casper
Chief U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Denise J. Casper serves as the Chief U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Donald L. Cabell
Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Donald L. Cabell serves as the Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
F. Dennis Saylor IV
Senior U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
F. Dennis Saylor IV is a Senior U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Indira Talwani
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Indira Talwani serves as a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Jessica D. Hedges
U.S. Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Jessica D. Hedges serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Jessica Thrall
Assistant Federal Public Defender at Federal Public Defender's Office
Jessica Thrall is an Assistant Federal Public Defender.
Jonathan Choi
Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law
Jonathan Choi is a Professor of Law at Washington University School of Law.
Josh R. Bullock
Panel Executive at Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Josh R. Bullock is the Panel Executive for the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
Judith G. Dein
U.S. Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Judith G. Dein serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Julia E. Kobick
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Julia E. Kobick is a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Katherine Ferguson
First Assistant U.S. Attorney at U.S. Attorney's Office
Katherine Ferguson serves as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Associate Justice at U.S. Supreme Court
Ketanji Brown Jackson is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed in 2022.
Leah Foley
U.S. Attorney at U.S. Attorney's Office
Leah Foley serves as a U.S. Attorney.
Louis Tompros
Partner at WilmerHale
Louis Tompros is a Partner at WilmerHale, specializing in intellectual property litigation.
Madeline Cox Arleo
U.S. District Judge at District of New Jersey
Madeline Cox Arleo is a U.S. District Judge in the District of New Jersey.
Margaret R. Guzman
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Margaret R. Guzman is a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Melissa Maxman
Managing Partner, Washington Office at Cohen & Gresser LLP
Melissa Maxman is the Managing Partner of the Washington Office at Cohen & Gresser LLP.
Melissa Murray
Professor of Law at NYU School of Law
Melissa Murray is a Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, specializing in constitutional law and reproductive rights.
Meredith Leary
Member at Mintz
Meredith Leary is a Member at Mintz, focusing on complex litigation.
Michael J. Klarman
Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History at Harvard Law School
Michael J. Klarman is the Charles Warren Professor of American Legal History at Harvard Law School.
Michael Packard
Partner at Quinn Emanuel
Michael Packard is a Partner at Quinn Emanuel, specializing in white-collar criminal defense.
Myong J. Joun
U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Myong J. Joun serves as a U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Naomi Shatz
Partner at Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP
Naomi Shatz is a Partner at Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, specializing in employment and education law.
Nathaniel M. Gorton
Senior U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Nathaniel M. Gorton serves as a Senior U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Oscar Cruz
First Assistant Federal Public Defender at Federal Public Defender's Office
Oscar Cruz is the First Assistant Federal Public Defender.
Patti B. Saris
Senior U.S. District Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Patti B. Saris serves as a Senior U.S. District Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Paul G. Levenson
U.S. Magistrate Judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Paul G. Levenson serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Massachusetts.
Paul Lannon
Partner at Holland & Knight LLP
Paul Lannon is a Partner at Holland & Knight LLP, focusing on labor and employment law.
Peter Cary
Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge at District of Maine
Peter Cary serves as the Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in the District of Maine.
Scott Lauer
Assistant Federal Public Defender at Federal Public Defender's Office
Scott Lauer is an Assistant Federal Public Defender.
Tara Allen
Federal Public Defender at Federal Public Defender's Office
Tara Allen is a Federal Public Defender.
Event Details
- Date
- October 15, 2025
- Location
- 🇺🇸 Boston, United States
- Boston Marriott Newton
- Audience
- Legal professionals, including attorneys, judges, and legal scholars.