Welcome to the OU Federalist Society!

Greetings, and welcome to the University of Oklahoma Chapter of the Federalist Society. OU’s Federalist Society is a vibrant, active organization that seeks to present a balance in the political debate in a legal/academic community that is noted for its leftist-leaning ideologies. In short, we seek to present the “other side” of the debate, and no matter what your political views, we hope to enhance your academic experience. The Federalist Society provides a forum for conservative and libertarian thinkers to espouse their views, which we feel are synonymous with those of the greater part of American society, regardless of what is taught in the classroom.

During your studies, it is important to realize that law schools and the legal profession are currently dominated by an orthodox liberal ideology that advocates a centralized and uniform society. While some members of the academic community have dissented from these views, by and large they are taught simultaneously with (and indeed as if they were) the law.

The Federalist Society is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.

The Federalist Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. This entails reordering priorities within the legal system to place a premium on individual liberty, traditional values, and the rule of law. It also requires restoring the recognition of the importance of these norms among lawyers, judges, and law professors.

In working to achieve these goals, the Federalist Society has created a conservative and libertarian intellectual network that extends to all levels of the legal community. We hope that you will be a part of this network. The Federalist Society exists to reaffirm the political beliefs of most students, while challenging the outmoded views of others.

We are looking forward to an exciting year at OU and within the Federalist Society. I encourage you to participate in Federalist Society activities and invite you to join.

Scott Hodges
President, OU Federalist Society