Courageous Conversations in Ethics: The Moral Limits of Zealous Advocacy

What moral responsibilities do lawyers have when representing clients—especially when the law permits actions that seem ethically troubling? This Courageous Conversations in Ethics panel brings together leading voices in legal philosophy and judicial practice to examine the tension between zealous advocacy, moral judgment, and fidelity to the rule of law. Drawing on contrasting philosophical frameworks and real-world legal experience, the conversation will explore whether lawyers should be guided primarily by personal moral responsibility, professional role obligations, or institutional norms—and what those choices mean for justice, human dignity, and public trust in the legal system.

Panelists

David Luban is a leading legal philosopher and Professor of Law and Philosophy at Georgetown University. His work focuses on legal ethics, human rights, and the moral responsibilities of lawyers. He is the author of Legal Ethics and Human Dignity (2007), which argues that legal practice must be grounded in respect for human dignity rather than narrowly defined role-based professionalism.

Brad Wendel is Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, where he teaches and writes on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and the application of moral and political philosophy to law. Wendel is known for his critique of approaches that place excessive moral judgment on individual lawyers, instead emphasizing accountability through legal institutions, professional norms, and the rule of law.

Paul Felix is a Judge on the Indiana Court of Appeals, appointed in 2023 after many years of service as a prosecutor and as a judge on the Hamilton Circuit Court and Carmel City Court. A graduate of the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Judge Felix is recognized for his commitment to access to justice and rehabilitation-oriented court programs.