Current and Former State Solicitors General to Speak at W&L The Sept. 18 symposium will examine the areas of constitutional litigation shaping our political discourse and feature W&L undergraduate and law alumni.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
September 15, 2026

Washington and Lee University will host a symposium with current and former members of state attorneys general offices at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 18 in the Millhiser Moot Court Room in Sydney Lewis Hall.

The event is free and open to the public, and registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided beginning at 1:15 p.m. Those interested in attending a dinner following the panel can contact Alex Kagan ’27 at alexkkagan@gmail.com.

The symposium, titled “Litigating Federalism: The Role of State Attorneys General at America 250,” will offer an unparalleled look at various areas of constitutional litigation shaping our political discourse, as well as opportunities to meet W&L undergraduate and law alumni practicing in the field.

Presenters will include Judge S. Chad Meredith ’04, United States district judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the former solicitor general of Kentucky; Jenna Lorence ’17L, former solicitor general of Alaska; Caleb David ’15L, deputy solicitor general and special counsel of West Virginia; Clark Hildabrand ’13, former deputy solicitor general of Tennessee; Thomas Sanford ’13, former deputy attorney general for civil litigation of Virginia; Graham K. Bryant, former principal deputy solicitor general of Virginia; and Michael Dingman, former deputy solicitor general of Virginia and director of 10th Amendment litigation. These speakers have been involved in some of the defining cases and areas of litigation over the past decade, including the U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Skrmetti, briefing election litigation before the Supreme Court and helping overturn tens of billions of dollars of regulations imposed on energy companies.

The first panel, “Federalism, Regulation and Economic Policy,” will begin at 2 p.m., followed by a reception in the Moot Court Room lobby, and will be moderated by Addison Gills ’27L. Meredith will deliver brief remarks at 3:30 p.m., ahead of moderating the second panel, “Federalism, Social Policy and State Sovereignty,” at 3:45 p.m.

“Litigating Federalism” is supported by the W&L School of Law’s Federalist Society, The W&L Spectator, the Generals Redoubt and the W&L Department of Politics.