On January 21, 2020, Catholic Law students hosted their first Hot Topics in the Law Roundtable Series of the new year. This week, the student lead series focused on the timely topic: presidential impeachment.

Discussion group leaders Denise Isaac (2L), Thomas Dillon (2L), and Andrea Laprade (2L) opened the hour by establishing group norms and creating a safe space for all to share their thoughts about the topic. Isaac then introduced professors Mark Rienzi and Sarah Duggin to share background information on the impeachment process. Using their professional expertise, Professor Rienzi and Professor Duggin provided historical overview on key sections of the constitution, as well as precedent in regards to the impeachment of a president.

After the overview, Dillon opened up the floor for discussion by posing the initial question: Is the impeachment process a fair one given how much political influence there is in the trial? From there, discussion touched on the role of the senate and the Chief Justice, intentionally vague language in the constitution, and the role that social media and the 24-hour news cycle plays in the perception of this impeachment when compared to the previous two.