At Berkeley Law yesterday, protesting a Federalist Society panel came with a sharp warning: cross the line on disruptions, and you could be reported to the California State Bar.
The caution from administrators went out ahead of a contested event on Israel and the war in Gaza, as campus security and police maintained a visible presence and demonstrators gathered outside the law school.
Panel, Speakers, And Venue
The Federalist Society at Berkeley Law hosted a panel titled “Why Israel Won: A Panel on Oct 7th and the Wider War” yesterday, featuring Professors John Yoo, Steven Davidoff Solomon, and Daniel Sargent, according to the law school’s event listing. UC Berkeley Law lists the gathering as an on-campus event open to the law school community.
In an email sent to student groups ahead of the event, Berkeley Law administrators warned that violations of time, place, and manner rules could prompt referrals to licensing authorities and that disruptive conduct risked being reported to the state bar, the Daily Californian reported. The Daily Californian also noted that Berkeley Law Students for Justice in Palestine planned a rally at Heyman Terrace to coincide with the panel.
Speakers’ Records And Controversy
Two of the panelists brought national baggage with them, heightening tensions around the event. Professor John Yoo is widely associated with legal opinions from the early 2000s, the so‑called “torture memos,” that shaped post‑9/11 interrogation policy, as laid out in congressional records. Congress.gov documents the legal lineage of those memos.
Professor Steven Davidoff Solomon has publicly urged federal scrutiny of campus antisemitism in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece earlier this year. The Wall Street Journal published Solomon’s op-ed in February 2025.
Outside The Law Building
While the discussion unfolded inside, the protest unfolded just outside. Approximately 50 people gathered at Heyman Terrace to chant “Free Palestine” and protest the panel; organizers stated that the outside action lasted less than an hour. The Daily Californian reported that police and event security were visible both inside the law building and on the terrace during the panel.
Federalist Society organizers said they anticipated pushback and had taken steps to secure the room. The student chapter lists Shneur Z. Gansburg as its president. The Federalist Society at Berkeley maintains event listings and officer names for its chapter.
Legal Implications
The prospect of reporting student protesters to the California State Bar immediately raised questions about how far such threats could realistically go. The State Bar’s public guidance explains that formal complaints and discipline referrals are handled by the Office of Chief Trial Counsel, which evaluates allegations against licensed attorneys and may open investigations if professional rules appear to have been violated. The State Bar of California outlines the process for filing and processing complaints.
Why This Matters
The clash over the panel is the latest flashpoint in a long‑running fight over campus speech, safety, and the limits of protest at UC Berkeley. The university’s Free Speech Movement history, preserved in its archives, looms large in the background of episodes like this, helping explain why demonstrations at Cal so often become broader tests of principle and process. UC Berkeley Library keeps those historical records.
