Speaking Freely, Listening Well: Civil Disagreement in Polarized Times

As political polarization intensifies and institutions face unprecedented pressure, the ability to voice respectful disagreement has never been more vital — yet more endangered. This foundational civic virtue, once taken for granted in our public discourse, now requires deliberate cultivation and courage to maintain.

The legal profession has long understood that principled disagreement lies at the heart of justice itself — that the ability to argue all sides of an issue, represent all people, and dissent without fear forms the bedrock of constitutional governance. When this tradition erodes, so does public trust in the rule of law.

In this year’s Brackett B. Denniston, III Rule of Law Lecture, former U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon will explore how we can recover the lost art of respectful disagreement and why doing so is essential to preserving both our justice system and free society.

Drawing on her recent experience resigning from the Department of Justice rather than comply with an order to drop a high-profile corruption case, Sassoon brings unique insight into what is required to uphold America’s constitutional system under political pressure.

Her story demonstrates how individual acts of integrity, voiced with respect but without compromise, serve as the ultimate safeguard of democratic institutions—and provides a powerful model for how to practice principled disagreement even in the most challenging circumstances.

Danielle Sassoon is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. She is the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, having served in early 2025. Prior to that, she served as an Assistant United States Attorney for about eight and a half years. As a member of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit, she tried M**der and racketeering cases, and prosecuted Lawrence Ray for racketeering conspiracy, extortion, forced labor, and sex trafficking, related to his abuse and exploitation of his daughter’s college roommates and others. As a member of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force, she investigated and prosecuted Samuel Bankman-Fried and others for the multi-billion-dollar fraud on customers of FTX.com. Prior to assuming the role of United States Attorney, Ms. Sassoon served as Co-Chief of Criminal Appeals. In 2024, she was awarded the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation. In 2023, she was awarded the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Top Prosecutor Award.

Ms. Sassoon graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 2008 and from Yale Law School in 2011. Following graduation from law school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and to the Honorable Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court.

There are multiple sponsorship levels available for the 2025 Denniston Lecture. These include:
Platinum Sponsor - $50,000

• Up to two tables of 12 in a premier location for dinner

• 10 tickets to the sponsors' reception with Danielle Sassoon

• Premier recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website
  

Gold Sponsor - $25,000

• Up to two tables of 10 in a premier location for dinner

• 5 tickets to the sponsors' reception with Danielle Sassoon

• Premier recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website

Silver Sponsor - $15,000

• One table of 10 in a preferred location for dinner

• 5 tickets to the sponsors' reception with Danielle Sassoon
• Prominent recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website

Bronze Sponsor - $10,000

• One table of 10 for dinner

• 5 tickets to the sponsors' reception with Danielle Sassoon
• Recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website

Participating Sponsor - $5,000

• Five tickets to the event

• Two tickets to the sponsors' reception with Danielle Sassoon

• Recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website
  

Sponsor a Young Leader - $100 per ticket
Invest in the next generation by sponsoring a Pioneer Young Leader's attendance at the Denniston Lecture. Our PYLs are members of our community under 40. Benefits include:

• Recognition on the event materials

• Recognition on the event materials and Pioneer New England Legal Foundation's website

To inquire about sponsorships, please contact Caitlin Marple at [email protected].

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