Joint Gray's Inn and Inner Temple Amity Visit to Washington D.C.

For all who wish to attend, Inner Temple member Judge Dr Victoria McCloud, is organising a group to attend Roman Catholic Mass and engage in fellowship at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Sunday 11 September immediately before the Amity Visit, when many attendees will have arrived in DC. Meet in the reception of the Sofitel Lafayette Square Hotel at 10.30am for Mass at 11am (15 minute walk to Church). This will hopefully be followed by lunch afterwards somewhere local (paid for individually or shared as people decide on the day). It is estimated that around 50 guests could be accommodated for Mass and 25 for lunch (subject to the restaurant).

If you would like to be involved, please register your interest by booking below. As a member-led event, the Inns will collect details of those who wish to attend and pass contact email addresses to Judge Dr Victoria McCloud, who will co-ordinate attendance and lunch arrangements.

Cost: Lunch

Location: Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

Dress code: Smart casual

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

Bookings are now closed for this event, Members wishing to attend the NFL Football Game may purchase their own tickets online.

For all who wish to attend, Inner Temple member Tribunal Judge Ewan Paton is organising a group visit to watch NFL (American) Football – Washington Commanders v. Jacksonville Jaguars – at Fed Ex Field, Maryland (about 10 miles from Washington) at 1pm on Sunday 11 September. Travel from MetroRail from McPherson Square, with a walk of just under a mile to the stadium at the other end. Tickets will be from $50-175 plus train travel, to be booked independently.

If you would like to be involved, please register your interest by booking below. As a member-led event, the Inns will collect details of those who wish to attend and pass contact email addresses to Judge Paton, who will co-ordinate attendance and ticketing arrangements.

Cost: Tickets plus train travel

Location: Fed Ex Field, Maryland

Dress code: Casual

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

The Treasurers of the Inns invite you to join them at an informal welcome and drinks reception to meet your fellow Amity Visit colleagues and to collect delegate name badges and programme information.

Cost: Free of charge (registration essential)

Location: Sofitel Lafayette Square Hotel (TBC)

Dress code: Smart casual

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

Home of the Liberty Bell, the Rocky Steps, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Independence Hall where the USA was founded, Philadelphia is a thriving legal sector. The largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offers a rich and varied amount to see and do and will be a contrast to Washington D.C.

Facilitated by local resident and Gray’s Inn Bencher, Anthony B. Haller, the programme welcomes Amity Visit members and their guests to join members of the Temple American Inn of Court for a visit to the National Constitution Center exhibits, a buffet lunch at the Grand Hall Overlook, and an interactive panel discussion on “A Conversation on the Pros and Cons of a Written as Opposed to Unwritten Constitution”. Free time, perhaps for independent visits to Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed) or the Museum of American Revolution, will be followed by an early evening reception at Conversation Hall, City Hall.

National Constitution Center Panel Discussion

Moderator: The Honorable Cheryl Ann Krause, Federal Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Panellists:

Professor Robert Reinstein, Temple Law School

Judge Stephanos Bibas, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

His Honour Judge Milwyn Jarman QC, Circuit Judge, Cardiff Civic Justice Centre

Michael Butcher, barrister and President of the Franco-British Data Society

The Hon Mr Justice Michael Soole, High Court Judge

Grace Brown, barrister at Garden Court Chambers

The visit to Philadelphia is being generously supported by the Temple American Inn of Court who look forward to hosting their illustrious visitors from the UK and elsewhere in America’s first Capital and the “City of Brotherly and Sisterly Love”. They have the deep thanks of both Inns for their generosity and their expert local knowledge in creating a stimulating visit which will include a cornerstone event at the National Constitution Center and an opportunity to experience the history and places where America’s Independence was born.

Recommended departure from Washington to Philadelphia by Amtrak train (to be booked individually by members/guests) for arrival at National Constitution Center by 11am. Programme finishes at 7.30pm - recommended return from Philadelphia to Washington by Amtrak train at 7.53pm/8.11pm.

Cost: £65 (plus train fare to be arranged separately)

Location: National Constitution Center and Conversation Hall, City Hall, Philadelphia

Dress code: Business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

Facilitated by Inner Temple Bencher, Her Excellency Judge Joanna Korner CMG QC, this programme is designed to highlight the unique and interesting divergence between the US and UK trial systems, using a simple burglary case and featuring counsel and bench comprising a mix of US and UK advocates and judges. The mock trial will be followed by questions and discussion, including on jury voir dire v. random selection, taking objections, Judges summation and witness preparation.

Amity Visit members and their guests will be joined by members of the American Inns of Court and law students and faculty staff from George Washington University Law School.

Judges:

The Hon Barbara M.G. Lynn, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, and President of the American Inn of Court

Her Honour Sally Cahill QC, Circuit Judge and Deputy High Court Judge (2004-2022), former Director of Criminal Training at the Judicial College (2010-2016) and President of the Council of Her Majesty’s Circuit Judges (2020-2021).

Counsel:

Sarah Clarke QC, Serjeants’ Inn Chambers

Graham Aldous QC, 9 Gough Chambers

Patrick C. Holvey, US Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Intellectual Property Section

Caroline Merck, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Boston, Massachusetts

Cost: Free of charge (registration essential)

Location: George Washington University Law School

Dress code: Smart casual/business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

The cornerstone event of the Amity Visit programme, the programme includes a cocktail and canapé reception followed by three course dinner with wines in the US Supreme Court Great Hall. Amity Visit members and their guests will be joined by members of the American Inns of Court. The dinner is being subsidised by Inner Temple and Gray’s Inn.

Please note, the US Supreme Court requires all guests to attest to a negative covid (PCR or rapid antigen) test 24-hours prior to the event and to report their result their Inn of Court. We recommend that rapid antigen tests be purchased in the UK and taken to Washington for this purpose. All guests will be asked to confirm the results of their covid test (and that of any guest they are bringing) to their Inn on Tuesday 13 September. Any guest testing positive will not be permitted to attend the event.

All guests must bring with them a valid form of government issued identification (such as a passport or driver’s license) to present to security on entering the US Supreme Court building.

Cost: £200

Location: US Supreme Court

Dress code: Black tie/cocktail dress

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

The Inns are making arrangements with the Smithsonian for an organised tour of a selection of Smithsonian museums and galleries, potentially including lunch. Places will be limited and allocated on a “first come, first served” basis.

If you would like to be involved, please register your interest by booking below.

Cost: To be confirmed (registration essential)

Location: Smithsonian Institution

Dress code: Smart casual

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

A reception hosted by the American Inns of Court including drinks and appetizers at the prestigious and exclusive location of the Capital Yacht Club. Meet with American and British Pegasus Scholars, members of the American Inns of Court Board of Trustees, and the William B. Bryant American Inns of Court.

Cost: £54

Location: Capital Yacht Club

Dress code: Business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

A limited number of Inner Temple, Gray’s Inn and American Inns of Court guests have been invited to join the British Ambassador, Dame Karen Pierce DCMG, at a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres at the British Ambassador’s Residence.

If you have received an invitation and you are unable to attend, please confirm as soon as possible with Wanda Szwed (PA to the Sub-Treasurer, Inner Temple) at wszwed@innertemple.org.uk so that your place can be released to another guest.

This event is only open to invited members and their guests. If you have not received a separate invitation for the British Ambassador’s Reception, please do not attempt to book a place on this event.

Cost: £54

Location: British Ambassador’s Residence

Dress code: Business attire

Open to: This event is only open to invited guests

BOOK HERE

The Inns will co-ordinate a list of members and guests for the Amity Visit to Washington D.C. who would like to participate in a free and self-guided tour of The Library of Congress, ahead of the afternoon panel discussion. Group bookings with names of participants are required in advance by the Library of Congress.

Cost: Free of charge (registration essential)

Location: Library of Congress

Dress code: Smart casual/business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

Panel discussions on the tension between public health and personal autonomy, differences in and legal challenges to legislative/executive covid rule making, federalism and devolution issues arising from differing federal, state and local requirements or restrictions, the impact of COVID-19 on the administration of justice, and judicial deference to executive decision-making on COVID-19. Amity Visit members and their guests will be joined by members of the American Inns of Court and guests of the Library of Congress.

Moderator: Kannon Shanmugam, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Panellists:

The Hon Collins J. Seitz, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Delaware

The Hon Barbara M.G. Lynn, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas, and President of the American Inn of Court

Professor Mark Hill QC, Francis Taylor Buildings

His Honour Roger Chapple, retired Senior Circuit Judge

Cost: Free of charge (registration essential)

Location: Library of Congress

Dress code: Smart casual/business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

The Amity Visit closing dinner will take place at the impressive Army & Navy Club, including a drinks and canapé reception followed by a three-course dinner with wines. Amity Visit members and their guests will be joined by members of the American Inns of Court.

All guests are invited to join informal drinks at the Sofitel Lafayette Square Hotel after dinner.

Cost: £133

Location: Army & Navy Club

Dress code: Business attire

Open to: This event is only open to Amity Visit members and their guests

BOOK HERE

Gray’s Inn member, Maryanne Mbira, is exploring contacts with local rowing clubs in DC, potentially with a view to arranging an outing on the Potomac river (possibly with American colleagues). Options for rowing and canoeing may be available. Please contact Sam Hutchinson (Chief of Staff, Gray’s Inn) at Sam.Hutchinson@graysinn.org.uk if you would like to be involved and you will be put in touch with Maryanne Mbira.

Inner Temple member, Judge Ewan Paton, will be leading one or more runs around D.C. – open to everyone. Given the likely temperatures and to fit in with the rest of the schedule, these are likely to take place early morning ahead of breakfast. Please contact Wanda Szwed (PA to the Sub-Treasurer, Inner Temple) at wszwed@innertemple.org.uk if you would like to be involved and you will be put in touch with Judge Paton.