Eyeing the Bench: A Supreme Court Update

Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students

Supreme Court Graphic

Each fall, the Supreme Court opens a new term with cases that will shape the boundaries of law, government, and daily life for years to come, yet most Americans learn about these decisions only after they've already been made. Join us for the fourth annual Eyeing the Bench, the Hauenstein Center's Supreme Court term preview panel, featuring veteran journalists who cover the Court for a living. Drawing on their reporting and inside knowledge of how the justices work, panelists will walk through the term's most significant upcoming cases, the legal questions at stake, and what to watch for as arguments unfold in the months ahead.

The program will also explore how the press covers an institution that operates largely behind closed doors, examining the challenges of reporting on the Court's decisions, deliberations, and internal dynamics for a public audience. It's a chance to hear directly from the reporters shaping how Americans understand the nation's highest court, before the term's biggest stories break.

Program Schedule

5:00 p.m. Members Only Reception Begins
5:30 p.m. Doors Open & Check-In Available
6:00 p.m. Program Begins
7:30 p.m. Program Concludes

Know Before You Go

All are welcome! We invite students, faculty, staff, and community to attend.
Admission is free, but registration is required. Please check in when you arrive.
We offer a free Community Conversations dessert reception following the program to reflect and chat about what you heard.
In-person attendance is encouraged. However, to ensure our events are accessible to all, we offer a virtual option.
This event takes place on GVSU's City Campus in downtown GR. Free parking is available with validation.

About the Hauenstein Center

Inspired by Ralph Hauenstein’s life of leadership and service, the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies is dedicated to raising a community of ethical, effective leaders for the twenty-first century.

Consider supporting our work by becoming a member. Members enjoy special benefits like pre-event receptions at events.

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