Baylor Law Faculty Speak at 179th Annual Meeting of The Philosophical Society of Texas

WACO, Texas -

On Feb. 17-19, The Philosophical Society of Texas held its 179th annual meeting in Waco, Texas. Seven members of the Baylor Law School faculty led sessions on various topics including trial by jury, the status and future of legal education, capital punishment, and the judicial system administration.

Led by Judge Ken Starr, the society's president, the purpose of the 2017 meeting was to discuss current topical issues pertinent to the rule of law and the justice system in Texas and the nation. The event was open to all members of the society and their guests, but closed to the public.

Beginning with opening remarks by Baylor Law School Dean Brad Toben and carrying on through the weekend sessions, Baylor Law faculty prominently participated in the Philosophical Society's sessions as speakers and moderators. Dean Brad Toben, Baylor Law Practice Court Professors Gerald Powell, Jim Wren, and Liz Fraley, along with Professors Bridget Fuselier and Patricia Wilson, and Justice in Residence the Honorable Jan Patterson led sessions on trial by jury, the status and future of legal education, capital punishment, and the judicial system administration.

"My colleagues and I were pleased to be invited to present before such a distinguished audience. All agreed that the discussions of the members and the various presentations were interesting, provocative, and productive," said Dean Toben.

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Established in 1857, Baylor Law School was one of the first law schools in Texas and one of the first west of the Mississippi River. Today, the school has more than 7,400 living alumni. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Baylor Law School has a record of producing outstanding lawyers, many of whom decide upon a career in public service. The Law School boasts two governors, members or former members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, two former directors of the FBI, U.S. ambassadors, federal judges, justices of the Texas Supreme Court and members of the Texas Legislature, among its notable alumni. In its law specialties rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Baylor Law's trial advocacy program as #4 in the nation. Baylor Law School is also ranked #55 in the magazine's 2017 edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools." The National Jurist ranks Baylor Law as one of the "Best School for Practical Training," and #4 in the nation in its most recent "Best Law School Facilities" listing. The Business Insider places Baylor Law among the top 50 law schools in the nation. Baylor Law School received the 2015 American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award, making it only the third law school in the nation to be honored with the award since the award's inception in 1984.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 D1 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big XII Conference. Learn more at baylor.edu