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POLITICS AND THE JUDICIARY
Judicial Independence, Political Pressure, and the Rule of Law Presented by the Hon. William Wagner (Ret.), WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom at Michigan State University College of Law — Federalist Society Debate - October 21, 2026 I. INTRODUCTION: THE QUESTION BEHIND THE QUESTION Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here at Michigan State University College of Law. I am grateful to the Federalist Society for inviting us to consider a question that reaches the v
POLITICS AND THE JUDICIARY
Judicial Independence, Political Pressure, and the Rule of Law Presented by the Hon. William Wagner (Ret.), WFFC Distinguished Chair for Faith & Freedom at Michigan State University College of Law — Federalist Society Debate - October 21, 2026 I. INTRODUCTION: THE QUESTION BEHIND THE QUESTION Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to be here at Michigan State University College of Law. I am grateful to the Federalist Society for inviting us to consider a question that reaches the v
When Science Loses Its Moral Compass: Human Dignity Is Not a Matter of Racial or Ethnic Purity
Science can investigate differences among human populations. But when scientific research begins treating racial and ethnic lines as a framework for understanding human well-being, we ought to ask a far more fundamental question. What understanding of the human being is guiding the inquiry? That question lies at the heart of the recent controversy surrounding a scientific paper co-authored by Abdul El-Sayed and Sandro Galea, examining premature births among Arab-American moth
Michigan Proposal 1: A Constitutional Opportunity or a Constitutional Risk?
Michigan voters will decide this November whether to convene a constitutional convention to consider rewriting the state's Constitution. For citizens committed to the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, parental rights, and limited government, the question presents both an extraordinary opportunity and a substantial risk. Proposal 1 appears on the ballot not because of a petition drive or legislative initiative, but because Michigan's Constitution expressly requires it
Rediscovering Columbus Day
Last week I returned from the Azores Islands in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. On this trip, I saw where Christopher Columbus and his crew took shelter from a terrible storm in February of 1493. Amidst songs of praise and ardent prayer they survived the ordeal and went ashore to fulfill a vow of thanksgiving for their survival. Barefoot and dressed only in their shirts, half of Columbus' men were captured during their pilgrimage to the nearest chapel. After nine tumultuous
Salvatore Biondo
Oct 12
Canada Takes a Welcome Step Toward Protecting Vulnerable Human Life
An Update to “Life Holds Value at Every Stage – A Canadian Horror Story” In our September 25 Waypoint article, “Life Holds Value at Every Stage – A Canadian Horror Story,” we examined the troubling consequences of Canada's expanding euthanasia regime. Through the heartbreaking account of Brigitte Stegemann, an elderly Canadian woman whose family raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding her medically administered death, we called for a return to a fundament
When Government Treats Parents as Enemies: The Evidence and the Constitutional Reckoning
The Department of Justice's newly released report provides a documentary account of federal investigations involving parents who challenged public school policies. Its findings invite a deeper examination of governmental authority, constitutional liberty, and the fundamental rights of parents. A government that fears the voices of parents has forgotten whom it serves. During my years serving as a federal prosecutor and later as a federal judge, I learned the indispensable imp
AI, Truth, and the Freedom of Conscience
The Quiet Power to Shape What We Think While researching a constitutional issue recently, I encountered something that unsettled me. The legal question itself was difficult but not obscure. I was examining the interaction between a proposed constitutional provision, parental rights, and the protection of human life. Yet reaching a clear answer required repeated probing, careful reformulation, and persistence. Eventually, the analysis emerged. But the experience left me thinki
Virginia’s children deserve protection before and after birth
I lived much of my life in the great Commonwealth of Virginia, and all my children were born there. That is why Question 1, the constitutional abortion amendment on November 3’s ballot, concerns me as both a father and a constitutional scholar. Beneath its language of freedom lies a threat to children before and after birth. My children’s birth certificates recorded their arrival, not the beginning of their humanity. Their worth did not depend on being wanted. Every human bei
The Hyde Amendment at Fifty: A Promise Worth Keeping
Fifty years ago, Congress drew a moral line. On September 30, 1976, it enacted the first Hyde Amendment, providing that federal Medicaid funds generally could not be used to pay for abortions. Congress has renewed that protection in annual appropriations ever since.1 The Hyde Amendment prevents the federal government from compelling taxpayers to finance most abortions. That distinction reflects both constitutional restraint and moral clarity. It also respects the deeply held
The views and opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Spring Arbor University Foundation, Wagner Faith & Freedom Center, or Spring Arbor University. The use of artificial intelligence may play a role in assisting editors and contributors in their published works.
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