250th Anniversary of the Constitution - Student Video Essay Competition
May 1, 2026 thru June 15, 2026
This video essay competition invites students to explore how the promises of the “Second Founding” of the U.S. Constitution continue to shape American life today.
The “Second Founding” marks a pivotal moment in United States history, when the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments transformed the Constitution in the aftermath of the Civil War. These Reconstruction Amendments abolished slavery, established birthright citizenship, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and sought to secure voting rights for all citizens. In doing so, they redefined the relationship between the federal government and the states, expanding national responsibility for protecting individual rights.
Submit a 3–5 minute video that shows how you have seen the outcomes of the "Second Founding" take effect in your own life, and what work still needs to be done for all to truly be equal in the United States?
Three winners will be selected for this competition, and all winning submissions will be featured on our website. First place will receive a $250, second place will receive $150, and third place will receive $50.
CLICK HERE for more information and to make your submission!
American Indian Law CLE Series
The Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights will host a series of CLE sessions focusing on American Indian Law as follow:
1. Colonial History of the American Legal System
This session examines of the colonial foundations of the American legal system, focusing on how doctrines of conquest, discovery, and domination shaped the development of U.S. law. Drawing on historical sources and federal Indian law, this session traces how European legal frameworks were imposed on Indigenous nations and how those frameworks continue to structure modern legal institutions. Particular attention is given to the evolution of property law, sovereignty, and jurisdiction, and to the ways early colonial legal orders were formalized in foundational cases such as Johnson v. M’Intosh, 21U.S.C. 543 (U.S. 1823). This session situates contemporary legal doctrines within this longer history to provide practitioners with a deeper understanding of how structural inequities became embedded in American law and persist in current jurisprudence.
2. Human Trafficking and the MMIWG2S Movement
This session provides a grounded, evidence-informed exploration of the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) movement through the lens of applicable federal law. According to statistics, four out of five of Indigenous women experience some form of violence in their lifetime. Still further, Indigenous women face murder rates over ten times higher than the national average. This session examines the scope, context, and legal implications of the MMIWG2S movement’s intersection with violence, systemic response, and the practice of law.
3. The Historical Context and Black Letter Law of the Indian Child Welfare Act
This session provides historical grounding and practical legal guidance for applying the Indian Child Welfare Act (“ICWA”) in child welfare cases involving Native American children. The session begins with historical context, emphasizing the legacy of U.S. policies that systematically separated Native children from their families and communities. This includes the era of Indian boarding schools, where children were forcibly removed and placed in institutions designed to assimilate them into Euro-American culture. The legal application portion of this session focuses on key requirements under ICWA, which include determining whether a child is an “Indian child” under the statute, providing proper notice to tribes, and recognizing tribal jurisdiction. This session also addresses recent case law, compliance challenges, and ethical considerations for attorneys representing parents, children, or state agencies.
4. Federal Common Law Standard for Indian Tribes
This session analyzes the federal common law framework used to determine what constitutes an “Indian tribe” for purposes of federal law, with emphasis on litigation strategy and evidentiary development. This session centers on the doctrinal test articulated in Montoya v. United States and its subsequent interpretation in federal courts, including its interaction with administrative recognition processes and statutory regimes. Using a contemporary case study approach, this session explores how courts evaluate continuity, political authority, and community, and how advocates can structure factual records to meet or challenge the Montoya standard. This session is designed to equip practitioners with a precise understanding of the governing legal framework and the strategic considerations necessary to litigate tribal status in federal court.
2026 District Conference
America at 250: The Backbone of Democracy – Courts, Speech, People, and the Purse
Committee Members:
Rebecca Aitchison, Esq., Co-Chair
Danilo Borgas, Esq., Co-Chair
Sara Boucher, Esq., Co-Chair
Maura Black, Esq.
Kathryn Couture, Esq.
Joshua Dunn, Esq.
Steven Flores, Esq.
Sean Fontes, Esq.
Zachary Lyons, Esq.
Craig Montecalvo, Esq.
Tamera Rocha, Esq.
Amy Romero, Esq.
Etie-Lee Schaub, Esq.
Sam Kennedy Smith, Esq.
Monica Teixeira de Sousa, Esq.
Sessions and Keynote Speaker:
Keynote: Isabel Wilkerson
Isabel Wilkerson, is the barrier-breaking author of the New York Times bestsellers The Warmth of Other Suns and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, whose courage and conviction have cemented her as one of the most important narrative nonfiction writers of our time.
Ms. Wilkerson is the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, and has become a leading figure in narrative nonfiction, an interpreter of the human condition, and an impassioned voice for demonstrating how history can help us understand ourselves, our country, and our current era of upheaval.
“Voices Under Pressure: Censorship, Leverage, and the Future of American Expression”
Free speech issues are at the forefront of the current political landscape. These issues touch every facet of public and private life, from late night talk shows and big law firms to college campuses and public libraries. As federal, state, and local governments ramp up controls on speech, the citizenry is left wondering: What will become of American expression? This session explores the recent discourse surrounding the First Amendment, including increasing government censorship, efforts to restrict the free press, actions targeting dissent, the push and pull between antidiscrimination law and free speech, and the extent of free speech rights afforded to noncitizens. Presenters will delve into the history and spirit of the First Amendment and discuss how key high-profile battles at the center of the free speech debate will shape and redefine the First Amendment as we know it.
“Bulwarks of the Constitution: Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law”
Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist No. 78 that “[t]he complete independence of the courts of justice” is “essential” to the performance of the judicial function and “to guard the Constitution and the rights of individuals.” Judicial independence and the rule of law remain as essential today as they were when these words were written in 1788. Judges increasingly are experiencing unprecedented external pressures, including calls for impeachment following decisions; personal attacks that go far beyond disagreement with or criticism of legal reasoning or outcomes; accusations of illegitimacy, incompetence, or impropriety; and violent threats to judges, their staff, and their families. These unprecedented pressures threaten judicial independence and undermine public confidence in the judiciary. Meanwhile, there has been increasing uncertainty as to whether government actors will continue to abide by federal court orders and an alarming number of instances where such orders have been flouted. This panel discussion will examine the enduring importance of judicial independence and the rule of law, the current existential threat to both of these essential safeguards, and what we — as attorneys and citizens — can do to defend and uphold the Constitution.
“Strings Attached: When Federal Dollars Become Legal Battlegrounds”
Federal funding has long been a constitutional battleground, but recent years have intensified debates over how far the Executive Branch may go in using Congress’ power of the purse to shape national policy. As federal dollars become leverage in disputes over immigration enforcement, public health mandates, education policy, and state autonomy, courts increasingly find themselves mediating conflicts over discretion and authority. This session confronts the reality that fiscal conditions can function as powerful political tools and sometimes as proxy battles for issues unlikely to pass through ordinary legislation. Panelists will examine how courts navigate these high-stakes disputes, the limits of conditional funding, and whether the modern use of the spending power risks distorting the balance of federalism and separation of powers.
“Enforcement without Limits? Constitutional Protections in the Immigration Context”
This panel will feature esteemed experts and practitioners who will reflect on key shifts from early immigration to our current immigration system. Using the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and its principle of “We the People” as a framework, panelists will explore how changes have influenced our legal system and how immigration enforcement intersects with constitutional protections.
Members of the RI State Bar are able to acquire CLE credits while expanding their knowledge on various topics and networking with judges, colleagues, academics and law students.
Naturalization Ceremonies
A naturalization ceremony is the final, mandatory step to becoming a U.S. citizen, where lawful permanent residents take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. During this ceremony, participants renounce foreign allegiance, pledge to support the U.S. Constitution, and receive their Certificate of Naturalization.
Local vocalists and musicians from various colleges and community groups enhance our ceremonies with special performances.
Oath
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."
Ceremony Dates:
All ceremonies will be held in Courtroom 1 at the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island, One Exchange Terrace, Providence, RI 02903 at 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.
The Rhode Island Secretary of State, Gregg Amore attends the ceremonies as well as Congressman Gabe Amo and Congressman Seth Magaziner when their schedules allow.
May 13, 2026 – Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan, Presiding
Special Guest Brandon Choy, Soloist from Brown University, will perform.
June 17, 2016 – Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses, Presiding
July 2026 (Date to be Determined) – Judge Melissa R. DuBose, Presiding
August 19, 2026 – Judge Mary S. McElroy
September 17, 2026 – US Constitution Day and Citizenship Day -Judge Lara E. Montecalvo, 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, Presiding
October 21, 2026 – Magistrate Judge Amy E. Moses, Presiding
November 18, 2026 – Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Presiding
December 9, 2026 – Judge Melissa R. DuBose, Presiding