Judges Stress Importance of Judicial Independence Ahead of Public Forum in Harrisburg

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Widener University

AIRED; October 1, 2025

Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation. 

On October 6, as part of a partnership with the Dauphin County Bar Association, Keep Our Republic (KOR) will host a public forum titled “The Independent Court: What It Is and Why It Matters” at Widener Law School in Harrisburg. The panel will feature former United States Court of Appeals Judge Andre Davis, former District of New Jersey Federal District Court Judge Robert Kugler, and President Judge Emerita Bonnie Leadbetter of the Commonwealth Court. Together, they will discuss why judicial independence is a cornerstone of democracy.

In an interview ahead of the event, Judge Andre Davis explained the mission of Keep Our Republic and its Article III Coalition. “Keep Our Republic is focused on educating the public about democratic processes and the importance of elections and participation,” Davis said. “The Article III Coalition brings together retired federal judges, appointed by presidents of both political parties, to speak with one voice about the importance of the separation of powers, the rule of law, and judicial independence.”

Judge Robert Kugler added that judicial independence is built into the nation’s constitutional framework. “There are three branches of government—the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary. Judges need to be free from the influence of the other two branches in order to make decisions,” Kugler explained. “If you have a case in court, do you want it decided based on who you voted for in the last election—or strictly according to the law? That’s what judicial independence is about.”

For those who feel distant from the courts, Davis emphasized that judicial decisions touch everyone’s lives. “Not a single person in this country is far removed from the activity and work of the federal judiciary,” he said. “Whether you’re a small business owner, an employee, a parent, or even just a driver on the road, the decisions of the courts affect you and your community.”

Still, judges recognize that public perception of the courts is shifting. Judge Kugler noted that political attacks often distort the role of judges. “You hear this all the time—‘rogue judge,’ ‘radical left judge,’ ‘radical right judge,’” he said. “It erodes public support for the judiciary. There’s nothing wrong with disagreeing with judges or criticizing their decisions—that’s how the system works. But when criticism becomes personal, that’s when it becomes dangerous.”

The October 6 forum at Widener Law School invites the public to hear directly from judges about these issues and why an independent judiciary is vital to maintaining the checks and balances of American democracy.