Exactly 232 years after Monday, Sept. 17, 1787, Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law celebrated the day when state delegates signed the Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The School of Law hosted a conversation with Michael Dreeben, the former U.S. deputy solicitor general in charge of the Department of Justice’s criminal docket. Dreeben represented the U.S. in over 100 cases before the Supreme Court. The Dean of Hofstra Law, Judge Gail Prudenti, set the stage by emphasizing the importance of Constitution Day to the law community.
“We are excited and honored to welcome Mr. Dreeben to Hofstra Law,” Prudenti said. “He is said to know more about criminal law than anyone else on Earth.”
The largest room in the law school was packed with students and faculty intently listening to Dreeben’s insights.
Criminal law and criminal procedure professor Alafair Burke facilitated the conversation, beginning by asking Dreeben questions about his experience in front of the Supreme Court and working in the Solicitor General’s office for 30 years.
“The lawyers of the [Solicitor General’s office] are committed to the rule of law,” Dreeben said.
While the Solicitor General’s office is a wing of the Department of Justice, and therefore under the supervision of the President, Dreeben expressed his dedication to independently serving the interests of the U.S. While not a completely independent office, Dreeben emphasized, the office was not “purely political.”
“It was an insightful conversation,” said Nick Martin, a second-year law student. “[Dreeben’s] stories and experiences were great, and it was really cool [that] he came here.”
One story Dreeben shared came from the 1989 case of U.S. v. Halper, his first argument in front of the Court. Dreeben described how nervous he was before the Justices entered. Looking over to opposing counsel, Dreeben saw a similarly distressed young law clerk preparing himself. The petrified law clerk opposite Dreeben was the future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts.
“It was great to hear about his stories and experiences arguing in front of the Supreme Court,” said Claudia Ratner, a second-year law student.
Answering questions from the students, Dreeben expressed his views on moral conundrums that many lawyers face in their professional careers. Dreeben advised the audience to strongly consider the morality of their actions as attorneys. “All of you will confront issues that give you pause – you must look inside yourself to know what’s right.”
