Can Litigation Reverse Democratic Decline? The U.S. Department of Justice in a Period of Democratic Decline

The University of Chicago Law School is hosting an event titled "Can Litigation Reverse Democratic Decline? The U.S. Department of Justice in a Period of Democratic Decline," featuring Sonia Mittal, a former federal prosecutor and current clinical lecturer at Yale Law School. This event is scheduled for Monday, October 13, 2025, from 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm in Room V at 1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637. It is open to the Law School community.

Sonia Mittal will discuss how her background as a political scientist informs her litigation work during moments of constitutional crisis. She will draw upon her experiences as senior counsel and assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, where she oversaw significant Department of Justice investigations, including those into criminal price-fixing in the generic pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, Mittal will share insights from her role as a co-teacher for the Peter Gruber Rule of Law Clinic at Yale Law School, which conducts litigation and advocacy on rule of law threats at various levels.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Mittal during a Q&A session following her presentation. This event offers a platform for legal professionals, scholars, and students to explore the intersection of litigation and democratic preservation, providing valuable perspectives on the role of the Department of Justice during periods of democratic decline.

This event is particularly relevant for law students, legal practitioners, and academics interested in constitutional law, democratic governance, and the role of litigation in addressing challenges to democratic institutions. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how legal strategies can be employed to counteract democratic erosion and uphold the rule of law.