The fifteenth of our bi-annual James Wilson Fellowship classes concluded on Friday, January 9th. We are thrilled to share with you a brief reflection of the week as a way of celebrating another successful fellowship, our 2026 Winter Fellowship Class. With a group esteemed scholars leading our faculty and insightful guest speakers appearing throughout the week, JWI continues to provide the premier education in Natural Law Jurisprudence with our Fellowship.

The James Wilson Fellowship is the most sought-after, competitive legal educational program on Natural Law and the American Constitution in the country. At its core, our program aims to educate the nation’s brightest young lawyers, clerks, and law students in the foundation of Natural Law principles and their role in constitutional deliberation.

The 2026 Winter Fellowship was notable for a number of firsts. JWI was delighted to be joined in its Winter Fellowship for the first time in co-sponsorship with the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Foundation. The 2026 Winter Fellowship also attracted more applications than we have ever had for a Winter session of the James Wilson Fellowship. Not only does the deep pool of applicants allow for hosting two Fellowship sessions a year, but the Winter Fellowship in its third year is also achieving near-parity compared to the number of applications with the twelve-year-old Summer Fellowship.

Back row, left to right: Garrett Snedeker, Lawrence Wesco, Ryan Gale, Nathan Rhodes, Maxwell Stainton, Alicja Haran, David Brown, Nathan Swigart, Professor Gerry Bradley, Professor Daniel Mark. Front row, left to right: Katelyn Doering, Miranda Sherrill, Eric Wang, Casey Witte, Professor Hadley Arkes, Alexa Kawlewski, Blake Perry, Shelton Brown, Ethan Sullivan

During the week, our fellows discussed, among other things, "Natural Law & Theology at the Founding," "The Moral Ground of Free Economy," and "Retribution & the Morality of Punishment."

JWI Senior Fellow Justin Dyer Leads a Seminar

The 2026 Winter Fellowship featured our most active slate of special events and guest speakers. These included appearances by Don McGahn (Jones Day, former White House Counsel) and a contingent of fellows from our friends at First Liberty Institute. We also were deeply pleased to visit over a midday luncheon the Department of Justice’s Main Justice Building where several of our Fellowship Alumni in the Office of Legal Counsel graciously held a discussion with the Fellows before treating them to a tour. A private session at the Supreme Court followed by a tour of the building on the Fellowship’s final day capped an unforgettable week.

Fellows on a Tour of the Department of Justice

2026 Fellows David Brown, Maxwell Stainton, Shelton Brown, and Katelyn Doering in a Seminar

While the principal focus of the week is an academically rigorous introduction to the Natural Law, its relevance to American law, and its practical application, fellows are afforded several opportunities to connect with both scholars and peers in more relaxed settings. They are encouraged to grow their professional networks, but, as is often the case, frequently find themselves forming life-long friendships; this cohort was no exception.

Our "late night" offerings included a cocktail hour with alumni and JWI friends one night, while another night Fellows joined Prof. Bradley and other faculty for more casual, open-ended discussions over what cases the Supreme Court might consider in the future over pizza and wings.

The week concluded with a wonderful dinner at storied Gadsby's Tavern, filled with boisterous laughter, delicious food and heartfelt thanks; we could not have asked for a finer farewell. Yet this is, of course, not "goodbye," but "see you soon!"

James Wilson Class of 2026 Fellow David Brown and Garrett Snedeker

We are grateful to all of the 2026 James Wilson Fellows. They join over 200 Fellowship alumni who are defending the absolute truths upon which our country was founded. JWI’s Fellowship Alumni include jurists, practitioners, professors and law clerks.