February 6, 2026
The Federal Circuit Bar Journal’s symposium, Executive Orders and Their Impact on Government Workers, reflects the reality that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit occupies a central position in contemporary federal governance. Far from operating at the margins of the legal system, the Federal Circuit routinely adjudicates disputes that arise from executive action and federal policymaking, including matters involving trade and tariffs, veterans’ benefits, and federal employment. These issues are not abstract, they shape the daily lives of government workers and the individuals they serve, and they frequently emerge in the national conversation surrounding executive power and administrative accountability.
By centering this symposium on executive orders and their downstream effects, the Journal underscores the Federal Circuit’s role as a critical forum for reviewing the exercise of government authority. Executive orders often initiate policy changes that ultimately give rise to litigation within the court’s jurisdiction, placing the Federal Circuit at the intersection of executive action, administrative implementation, and judicial review. Through this symposium, the Journal highlights the breadth and significance of the Federal Circuit’s subject-matter jurisdiction and reinforces its importance not as a niche court, but as a key arbiter in the structure of federal governance.
Schedule:
8:00 – 8:40 AM
Breakfast & Check-In
8:40 – 9:00 AM
Opening Address – Madelyn Rush, Editor-in-Chief
9:00 – 10:25 AM
Government Personnel Panel
Panelists: Hampton Dellinger & Cathy Harris
Moderated by: Professor Richard J. Pierce
10:25 – 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Veterans Panel
Panelists: Renée Burbank, Chief Judge Michael P. Allen, & Gina D’Amico
Moderated by: Professor James D. Ridgway
12:00 – 12:15 PM
Break
12:15 – 1:30 PM
Trade/Tariff Panel
Panelists: Sophia Busch, Alan B. Morrison, Liz Lowe, & Jennifer Rohrbach
Moderated by: Professor Moushami P. Joshi
1:30 PM
Concluding Remarks – Sydney Leifermann, Managing Editor