As the boundaries of executive authority continue to be tested in the modern era, the University of Miami Law Review will gather a distinguished roster of judges, legal scholars, and practitioners for its 2026 Symposium, "The Constitutional Mosaic: The Balance of Federal Powers in Modern America."
The event will take place on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 1:10 PM to 5:00 PM at the Donna E. Shalala Student Center on the University of Miami’s Coral Gables campus.
This year’s theme arrives at a critical juncture in American jurisprudence. The Symposium aims to trace the evolution of the executive branch from its 18th-century origins to its current form.
High-Profile Keynote, Panels, and Judicial Insights
The afternoon will feature an opening keynote by Professor Aditya Bamzai of the University of Virginia School of Law, an expert in administrative law and the Constitution. His address will set the stage by exploring the "ebbs and flows" of presidential power and how these dynamics reshape the tripartite system of government.
The program is divided into three focused panels and a "Fireside Chat," featuring voices from across the legal spectrum:
- Constitutional Conflicts: Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Raoul G. Cantero will moderate a panel of federal judges from the Southern District of Florida, including Judge Roy Altman, Judge Melissa Damian, and Judge Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II. They will discuss the friction between executive authority and judicial review.
- Constitutional Tug-of-War: The Executive and Legislative Branch: Noted impeachment expert and CNN legal analyst Professor Michael Gerhardt (UNC Law) will join Professor Gregory Koger to debate the shifting power balance between the President and Congress, and the exchange will be moderated by Miami Law Professor Elizabeth Iglesias.
- The Fourth Branch? Executive Control and the Administrative State: The final panel will tackle the administrative state, featuring Miami Law Professor Charlton Copeland moderating Professor Kimberly Wehle (University of Baltimore) and Professor Noah Rosenblum (NYU Law), as they examine executive control over administrative agencies.
- Fireside Chat: Elizabeth Price Foley, partner at Holtzman Vogel and a frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal, will engage in a deep dive into the evolution of executive power with Miami Law Professor Caroline Corbin as moderator.
Bridging History During Its 80th Celebration Year
The event is expected to draw a wide audience of legal professionals, students, and citizens interested in the structural integrity of the American government.
"By focusing on the Constitution and the balance of federal powers, we aim to foster discussions that examine the evolution of the executive branch from its constitutional origins to modern day," the Law Review stated.
Founded in 1946, in addition to the symposium, the Law Review is commemorating the publication of its 80th volume in March of this year with a centennial signature event celebration. Each volume of the Law Review is dedicated to publishing the articles from each year’s symposium. The articles from this year’s symposium will be published in spring 2027.
Registration and CLE Credits
The Symposium is open to the public, with registration. Legal professionals in attendance are eligible for 4.0 Florida CLE Credits (3.0 General; 1.0 Ethics).
The University of Miami Law Review is a quarterly legal journal that prepares students for the practice of law and provides a forum for the expression of new legal ideas. It is the oldest and most prestigious legal publication at the University of Miami School of Law.
RSVP for the Law Review’s Celebration of its 80th Volume
