Johns Hopkins, Open to Debate partner for two-year live debate series

Open to Debate, the leading nonpartisan media platform steering the national conversation around the art of debate and the importance of free speech, has partnered with the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University to hold a flagship series of eight live debates over the next two years in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore called "The Hopkins Forum: A Debate Series from the Johns Hopkins University and Open to Debate."

The first of those eight debates will address the future of the U.S. Supreme Court and will take place at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 29 at 6:30 pm EST.

"A critical part of our university's mission is to foster the capacity for those with divergent, yet passionately held views to engage in thoughtful, rigorous dialogue," said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University. "We are thrilled to partner with Open to Debate to provide another avenue for testing and contesting ideas, both in Baltimore and at our Hopkins Bloomberg Center, and deepening the habits and skills to debate important societal issues in ways that bring us closer to impactful solutions."

Added Clea Conner, CEO of Open to Debate: "Modeling civil, respectful debate on critical contemporary issues has never been more important. At a time when so many settings generate more heat than light, we are honored to partner with John Hopkins and the SNF Agora Institute to establish the Hopkins Forum, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be freely explored and interrogated."

Free expression at JHU

Johns Hopkins University is committed to the steadfast protection of free expression, a commitment that emerges from the university’s time-honored role in the creation of knowledge and the exploration of ideas

The first debate will use Open to Debate's Unresolved format to explore the future of the nation's high court. Debaters will include Jeff Flake, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Jamal Greene, professor of law at Columbia Law School and prominent Supreme Court commentator; Cristina Rodriguez, co-chair of President Joe Biden's Supreme Court Commission; and Jeff Sessions, former U.S. attorney general and senator. The Unresolved format features multiple debate resolutions on the topic. Debaters must declare their "yes" or "no" stance on each of the resolutions, allowing for both sharp disagreements and unexpected alliances.

The event is open to the public. Advance registration is recommended, as space is limited.