Drake University Law School will present Upholding the Rule of Law, the spring installment of its Dean’s Speaker Series, on March 3. Melissa Murray, New York University Law professor, legal analyst for MSNBC, and co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, and Stuart F. Delery, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Gibson Dunn and former White House Counsel to President Joe Biden will be the featured speakers.
The event’s fireside chat and audience Q&A will begin at 3 p.m., followed by a reception at 4 p.m. The program is free and open to the public, with advance registration required.
The conversation will be moderated by Drake Law School Dean Roscoe Jones, Jr. and will explore the role of the legal profession in upholding the rule of law.“This event reflects Drake Law’s commitment to engaging students and the broader community in meaningful dialogue about leadership, civility, and the principles that sustain our legal system,” said Dean Jones. “We are honored to welcome Professor Melissa Murray and former White House Counsel Stuart Delery, whose careers exemplify public service, national impact, and promoting a more just world.”
Melissa Murray teaches constitutional law, family law, criminal law, and reproductive rights and justice at NYU School of Law. She is a co-author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary, and her forthcoming book, The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, will be published in May 2026. Her writing has appeared in leading legal and national publications, including the Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. Additionally, Murray is a legal analyst for MSNBC and co-host of Strict Scrutiny, a podcast focused on the Supreme Court and legal culture.
Stuart Delery brings more than 30 years of experience in senior government leadership and private practice. As White House Counsel from 2022–2023, he advised the President on constitutional, statutory, and regulatory matters, managed responses to congressional investigations, and supported the federal judicial nomination and confirmation process. Previously, he served as Acting Associate Attorney General of the United States and as Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division at the U.S. Department of Justice. He is currently a partner at Gibson Dunn, where his practice focuses on high-stakes litigation, crisis management, and regulatory matters involving complex legal and reputational risks.
— Taylor Johnson, Law School
