Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht to Berkley Law School

The Rieders Foundation sponsored a trip by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht to Berkley Law School.  This was inspired by the fact that a number of student “clubs” at the Law School passed resolutions effectively banning speech on campus that was considered either Pro Israel or Pro Zionist.  The Rieders Foundation was in the vanguard of those calling out the actions of the clubs, the Law School, and the University which permitted this action as a blatant violation of the First Amendment Free Speech Clause.  Berkley Law School is part of a publicly funded university.  These clubs could not exist without support, financial and legal (for their existence) from university system and public money. 

             Unfortunately, Justice Wecht was severely restricted in what he could say about Israel, Zionism, and the First Amendment restrictions.

             After much thought, the Foundation went ahead with the day’s events anyway.  No many was paid to Justice Wecht personally for this.  He utilized his own time without any charge whatsoever.  The Foundation merely paid the Justice’s expenses for travel, hotel, and paid for a dinner hosted by the Jewish Student Association at Berkley, oddly named Jzabl.  Jzabl was an idolitrist queen in Israel who persecuted, hunted down, and murdered many prophets during her reign. 

Photo of the Conversation

Thank you letter

Frank Justice Wecht Talk to the Jewish Law Students

Lunch with the Dean