![Cato U_Criminal Justice Symposium 2026_Web Banner](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/2026-03/Cato%20U_Criminal%20Justice%20Symposium%202026_Web%20Banner.jpg?itok=ou_6iOqF) Cato University # Cato University 2026: Criminal Justice Symposium Date and Time **August 6, 2026 — August 8, 2026** Location Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC Share This Event Each Cato University program explores classical liberal philosophy as a foundation for considering current policy issues. This specialized program for outstanding law students provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with Cato’s leading legal scholars on pressing issues in criminal justice. Through lectures, roundtable discussions, and a close reading of foundational and modern texts, students will be challenged to rigorously examine key libertarian ideas and consider how they inform practical reform efforts in today’s legal landscape. The program fosters serious intellectual exchange in an environment that values open inquiry, civil discourse, and analytical rigor. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of criminal justice through a classical liberal lens, stronger engagement with leading legal thinkers, and a network of peers committed to principled legal reform. Cato University is for United States based applicants; we are currently not accepting applications from internationally based attendees. Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of academic programming, networking opportunities, resources for further study, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program. Applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is **Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EDT**. If you have any questions or need assistance applying, please email our staff at [events@​cato.​org](mailto:events@cato.org?Subject=Cato%20University%20Application%202025). --- ### Schedule #### Thursday, August 6 5:00 - 6:00 PM **Registration** 6:00 - 6:30 PM **Welcome Reception** 6:30 - 7:15 PM **Dinner** 7:15 - 8:15 PM **Opening Keynote** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2021-01/Clark%20Neily.jpg?itok=gAushuUJ)[Clark Neily](https://www.cato.org/people/clark-neily), Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute 8:15 - 8:45 PM **Afterglow** #### Friday, August 7 8:00 - 9:00 AM **Breakfast** 9:00 - 10:15 AM **Originalism and Textualism** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2025-11/Matthew%20Cavedon-cropped.jpg?itok=BBPgFn8I)[Matthew Cavedon](https://www.cato.org/people/matthew-cavedon), Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2026-02/2025-10-16-Thomas%20Berry-sq_0.jpg?itok=tRmZz2--)[Thomas A. Berry](https://www.cato.org/people/thomas-berry), Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute 10:15 - 10:45 AM **Break** 10:45 - 11:30 AM **Breakout Sessions** 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM **Overcriminalization, Enumerated Powers, Regulation, and Federalism** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2024-11/mikefox-cropped.jpg?itok=0P6-pibK)[Mike Fox](https://www.cato.org/people/mike-fox), Legal Fellow, Cato Institute ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2026-05/kara-rollins.jpg?itok=eXlK_buD)[Kara Rollins](https://nclalegal.org/personnel/kara-rollins/), Senior Litigation Counsel, NCLA 12:30 - 1:45 PM **Lunch** **Job Panel** 1:45 - 3:00 PM **Race, History, and Disparities** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/authors/crops/balko.jpg?itok=RoHL1Fwq)[Radley Balko](https://www.cato.org/people/radley-balko), Investigative Journalist 3:00 - 3:30 **Break** 3:30 - 4:15 **Breakout Sessions** 4:15 - 4:45 PM **Debrief & Day Wrap-up** 6:30 - 7:00 PM **Reception** 7:00 - 8:30 PM **Dinner** **Dinner Program** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2026-05/catherine-bernard.jpg?itok=4Xz2_4f4)[Catherine S. Bernard](https://www.justice.law/catherine-s-bernard), Founding Partner, Bernard & Johnson, LLC. 8:30 - 9:00 PM **Afterglow** #### Saturday, August 8 8:00 - 9:00 AM **Breakfast** 9:00 - 10:00 AM **Fourth Amendment and Technology** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2026-07/Jake%20Laperruque.jpg)[Jake Laperruque](https://cdt.org/staff/jake-laperruque-2/), Deputy Director, Security and Surveillance Project ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2023-06/Jennifer-Huddleston-img-cropped2.jpg?itok=GLQEheea)[Jennifer Huddleston](https://www.cato.org/people/jennifer-huddleston), Senior Fellow in Technology Policy, Cato Institute 10:00 - 10:30 AM **Break** 10:30 - 11:30 AM **Juries and Plea Bargaining** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2024-11/mikefox-cropped.jpg?itok=0P6-pibK)[Mike Fox](https://www.cato.org/people/mike-fox), Legal Fellow, Cato Institute ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2025-11/Matthew%20Cavedon-cropped.jpg?itok=BBPgFn8I)[Matthew Cavedon](https://www.cato.org/people/matthew-cavedon), Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM **Breakout Sessions** 12:30 - 2:00 PM **Lunch** 1:00 - 2:00 PM **Lunch Session: Crimmigration** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2026-02/2025-10-16-Thomas%20Berry-sq_0.jpg?itok=tRmZz2--)[Thomas A. Berry](https://www.cato.org/people/thomas-berry), Director, Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2026-07/C.J.%20Ciaramella.jpg)[C.J. Ciaramella](https://www.cato.org/people/matthew-cavedon), Criminal Justice Reporter, *Reason* ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2021-01/Patrick%20Eddington.jpg)[Patrick G. Eddington](https://www.cato.org/people/patrick-g-eddington), Senior Fellow, Cato Institute 2:00 - 2:30 PM **Break** 2:30 - 3:30 PM **The Grievances of the Declaration of Independence and Criminal Justice Issues at 250** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2025-11/Matthew%20Cavedon-cropped.jpg?itok=BBPgFn8I)[Matthew Cavedon](https://www.cato.org/people/matthew-cavedon), Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute 3:30 - 4:30 PM **Abuses and Accountability** ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2024-11/mikefox-cropped.jpg?itok=0P6-pibK)[Mike Fox](https://www.cato.org/people/mike-fox), Legal Fellow, Cato Institute ![](https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/styles/bio_picture_desktop_3x/public/2021-01/Clark%20Neily.jpg?itok=gAushuUJ)[Clark Neily](https://www.cato.org/people/clark-neily), Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs, Cato Institute 4:30 PM **Closing Remarks & Reception** [![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/).