Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn on the Rule of Law
At the close of the 2025 Judicial Fellowship Program in Charlottesville, Virginia, Chief Justice S. Bernard Goodwyn of the Supreme Court of Virginia delivered a remarkable keynote address, offering reflections on the enduring responsibility shared by judges around the world.
Addressing Fellows who had gathered from multiple nations for two weeks of dialogue and collaboration, Chief Justice Goodwyn emphasized the universal principles that bind judicial systems together — impartiality, integrity, and respect for human dignity. His remarks highlighted both the challenges and the profound importance of judicial service in an increasingly interconnected world, encouraging our Fellows to carry forward the lessons of the Fellowship and the shared commitment to justice that defines their work.
Judicial Fellowship Program Keynote Address
It is both an honor and a privilege to join you this evening for the closing dinner of the 2025 Judicial Fellowship Program. I am especially grateful to The Presidential Precinct and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for their vision and leadership in convening this extraordinary gathering of jurists, scholars, and leaders from across the globe.
Standing here in Charlottesville, a place steeped in history and ideals of liberty and governance, I am reminded that the work we do as judges and guardians of justice is both timeless and urgent. Your presence here from so many different nations testifies to a universal truth: that justice and the rule of law are not the inheritance of any one people or country, but the shared aspiration of humanity.
I trust that these past two weeks have been insightful and challenging. My hope is that this experience has equipped you with practical tools and renewed purpose to take back to your own courts, strengthening the rule of law across the globe.
Rule of Law: A Foundation for Society
That phrase — the rule of law — is what I want to leave with you this evening. It is the foundation upon which this Judicial Fellowship Program is built, and I know you have explored it deeply during your time here. But let me speak to you plainly: in our profession, no matter where we serve, no matter what circumstances we face, there is nothing more necessary, nothing more crucial, than upholding and strengthening the rule of law.
At its core, the rule of law is the principle that law governs a society, rather than the arbitrary will of individuals. It ensures that power is exercised not by whim or caprice, but by principles that are known, transparent, and applied equally to everyone.
But beyond its technical definition, the rule of law represents a profound promise — a promise that justice is possible, that rights will be protected, and that human dignity will be respected.
Where the rule of law is strong, societies flourish. Where it is absent, corruption festers, power becomes abusive, and freedom itself withers.
The Role of Judges
As judges, we occupy a unique and solemn role in this global pursuit. We are the stewards of our legal systems. We are the interpreters of laws and constitutions. We are, in many respects, the living bridge between the ideals of justice and the daily lives of our citizens.
Our duty is not only to resolve disputes, but to model fidelity to the law, impartiality in judgment, and courage in the face of pressure. When we honor those duties, we reaffirm that the rule of law is not a mere abstraction but a lived reality for our people.
Yet, we also know that our task is not easy. Judges everywhere face challenges — whether from political interference, public distrust, limited resources, or the complexities of globalization and new technologies. In some places, the judiciary operates under grave threat. In others, it must resist the temptation to retreat into comfort or complacency.
The challenge is great, but so is the responsibility — and the privilege — of serving as a judge.
Law in an Interconnected World
In today’s interconnected world, the strength of the rule of law in one nation affects us all. Global commerce relies on trust that contracts will be honored and disputes fairly adjudicated. International cooperation depends on faith that commitments under treaties and conventions will be upheld. Human rights protections gain force when they are respected across borders, not merely within them.
Weakness in the rule of law anywhere undermines confidence everywhere. Corruption, exploitation, and instability in one corner of the globe ripple outward — through migration, economic disruption, and conflict.
Likewise, progress in strengthening the rule of law in one country can serve as a beacon to others, inspiring reform and encouraging stability. This is why your work here as fellows has been so important — not only to your own countries but to the global community.
This program has brought together judges and legal professionals from many nations to learn from one another, to exchange ideas, and to build relationships that transcend geography.
Judicial Fellows participate in the Justice on the Global Stage Forum in Washington, DC
In your time together, I understand that you have examined comparative systems of justice. You have debated the balance between rights and responsibilities. You have explored how to uphold judicial independence in the face of political pressures. And perhaps most importantly, you have built friendships grounded in mutual respect and shared values.
These exchanges matter. They strengthen our collective resolve. They remind us that while the legal traditions of our nations differ, the values we defend — fairness, impartiality, dignity — are universal.
Strengthening the Rule of Law
As you return home, you carry not only the lessons learned here, but also the strength of this fellowship. You leave with colleagues and allies across the globe who will walk with you in this journey of defending and strengthening the rule of law.
We have to realize that the rule of law is not self-executing. It requires constant vigilance. It requires judges willing to make difficult decisions, even when unpopular. It requires institutions that resist corruption, leaders who value accountability, and citizens who trust the system enough to engage with it.
Technology will test us — whether through artificial intelligence, digital surveillance, or new forms of cross-border crime. Political polarization will test us, as divisions strain the impartiality of courts. Economic pressures will test us, as inequality erodes confidence in justice.
But the path forward is also full of opportunity. Technology can improve access to justice. Cross-border partnerships can strengthen accountability. Education can foster new generations who believe in fairness and integrity.
As judges, we must embrace innovation without surrendering principle. We must be open to learning from one another, while steadfast in defending the timeless values of impartial justice.
We must know and demonstrate that the rule of law is not about political partisanship; it is about principle. That courts are not political battlegrounds; they are places of refuge where facts matter and rights are protected.
In this great effort, we, as judges, have a critical role. It is in our courtrooms where the rule of law is most directly experienced, and it is in our courtrooms where the rule of law can be protected by the daily, patient work of applying the law fairly in case after case after case.
The rule of law is protected when we demonstrate, through our actions, that courts are different from other institutions. That in our courtrooms, wealth does not determine outcomes. That political connections carry no weight. That every person, regardless of their station in life, will be treated with equal respect and dignity under the law. The seemingly ordinary cases that fill our dockets are where the rule of law truly lives. Those instances in which a single judge, in a single courtroom, treats a single person with fairness and dignity do more to strengthen the rule of law than anything else.
A Call for Courage
History teaches us that societies thrive when courts are strong, and falter when courts are weak. Judges are often called to be courageous voices in difficult times — to uphold the law when powerful interests demand otherwise, to protect rights when fear tempts society to curtail them, and to stand as guardians of fairness when passions run high.
Courage, however, does not mean loud defiance. Often, it means the quiet persistence of faithfully applying the law, day after day, case after case, without favor or prejudice. Integrity is built not in grand gestures but in steady, principled service.
We, as judges, are charged with protecting the rule of law.
A group of judges from the ‘25 Judicial Fellowship Program
This is an enormous task and a tremendous responsibility — one which can never be taken lightly. We are asked to stand apart from the political fray, while remaining deeply engaged with the human consequences of our decisions. We are asked to be learned in the law, while remaining accessible to those who know nothing of legal procedure. We are asked to be impartial, without being indifferent; to be authoritative, without being authoritarian; to be humble, while exercising great power.
It is, frankly, an impossible standard. We will fall short. We will make mistakes. But the trying — the constant striving to live up to that standard — is what maintains public trust. It is what gives legitimacy to our decisions. It is what allows the rule of law to function, even in difficult circumstances.
Hope and the Law
As this program concludes, I would like to point out to you that the rule of law is not only a legal framework; it is the foundation of human hope. Most people who walk into a courtroom carry with them the hope that justice is possible — that their voice will be heard, that their dignity will be respected, and that fairness will prevail.
When we as judges honor that hope, we strengthen not only our own courts and nations, but the bonds of trust and peace across the world.
So let me leave you with this: The rule of law is preserved in the choices we make — in the choice to apply the law even when it is difficult; in the choice to protect rights even when it is unpopular; in the choice to treat every person who enters your courtroom with equal dignity. These choices, made day after day, case after case, are what keep the rule of law alive. We are its guardians. That is our burden and our privilege.
As you leave here and return to your important work, remember that you do not labor alone. Around the world, in courtrooms large and small, other judges are making the same commitment, facing the same challenges, holding the same line. We are part of something larger than ourselves — a tradition of justice that spans centuries and continents, that has survived wars and revolutions, that has been tested and strengthened by each generation that refused to let it fail. We cannot let it fail on our watch.
I thank you for your service. I thank each of you for your dedication to justice. I thank each of you for your dedication to our noble calling. May you return to your countries renewed in purpose, strengthened by fellowship, and inspired to advance the cause of justice. And may the rule of law, through our collective efforts, remain a light that guides our world toward fairness, stability, and peace.
Chief Justice Goodwyn’s closing message underscored that the rule of law is sustained not only through institutions and legal frameworks, but through the daily choices of judges who commit themselves to fairness, courage, and principled decision-making. As the fellows depart Charlottesville and return to their home countries, they carry with them not only new insights and professional relationships, but also a renewed sense of purpose in defending justice within their own courts. In reminding them that judges across the globe share this responsibility, the Chief Justice framed their work as part of a larger, enduring tradition—one that depends on each generation’s willingness to uphold the law with integrity and resolve.
