Government students glean from important figures in major legal cases during D.C. trip

The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., hosted students from Liberty University’s Helms School of Government on Tuesday and introduced them to important voices on religious liberty, free speech, the transgender movement, and other critical societal issues.

Vice President of External and Government Relations for Focus on the Family Tim Goeglein, who also worked as special assistant to President George W. Bush, was one of the event’s co-hosts. Speakers included a wide variety of law professionals who are directly involved with two major religious liberty Supreme Court cases (Groff v Dejoy and 303 Creative v Elenis).

Carrie Severino, who co-authored the bestselling book, “Justice on Trial: The Kavanaugh Confirmation and the Future of the Court,” and her husband, Roger Severino, Vice President of Domestic Policy at the Heritage Foundation, each spoke to students for an hour. Students also heard from military veteran Mike Berry, the director of Military Affairs and Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute; Lorie Smith, a graphic designer who was censored by a Colorado circuit court for refusing to create websites promoting same-sex marriage; and Kellie Fiedorek, Senior Counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). First Liberty Institute is representing the plaintiff in Groff v Dejoy, and ADF is representing Smith in her case.

“This trip was an invaluable experience,” said government student Riley Banker, who is studying politics and policy. “Tim Goeglein and the Heritage Foundation coordinated an incredible panel of speakers who had unique and personal insight in their analysis of extremely relevant legal issues. Their strong words served as a personal inspiration for our generation to become Champions for Christ by defending strong, moral values in the home, in the community, and even in the courtroom.”

Students were given opportunities to ask questions and receive advice from the panelists.

Goeglein shared insight on tolerating others with opposing political and social viewpoints, and he said that listening to those perspectives oftentimes establishes trust between two parties. Carrie Severino spoke about her journey through Harvard Law School and provided advice for students considering a similar path.

Roger Severino weighed in on the transgender movement seeping into every facet of society. He encouraged students to respond with truth and love when faced with pressing questions, like pronoun preferences.

“The reality of such a question is that it is a test as to whether you are willing to acknowledge reality and your conscience,” he said. “Or if you’re willing to put that aside to create favor with other people.”

“Every time somebody stands up and speaks the truth, it’s one more chip in that dam against this harmful ideology of secularism and transgenderism,” he added.

(Roger Severino)

Students said they appreciated the eye-opening opportunity to engage with the speakers on these critical topics.

“If my time in college has taught me anything, it’s that building strong relationships is an essential component of success,” Banker said. “I am incredibly grateful to Dean (Robert) Hurt and the entire network in the Helms School for providing students with opportunities to not only have unforgettable experiences, but to also make lasting connections with students, faculty, and leading thinkers within every area of government.”

Smith, who owns her design company 303 Creative, talked about her journey as a designer and her strong desire to delve into wedding designs. She also walked students through the tensions she faced from the state of Colorado when she refused to design elements that contradicted her religious beliefs.

“The right to speak freely is worthy of protecting, not just for myself, but for each and every one of us,” said Smith, who joined virtually. “Not just for today, but for tomorrow and for years to come.”

Following multiple disappointing rulings by the state of Colorado, Smith’s case is currently pending in the Supreme Court. The ruling is expected to be decided before June.

(Lorie Smith spoke to students remotely from Colorado)

“I appreciated how insightful and topic-specific the speakers were — they didn’t just preach the same general, ‘We’re in a pivotal time in history’ lines,” said public policy graduate student Grace Phillipps. “They gave us practical examples of how to be courageous, yet loving, when faced with opposition over simple issues such as what a woman is and that free speech is a right for all.”

“It’s important that we as Liberty students see the clear intersection of our faith and policy in the religious liberty issue and furthermore get a grasp on how we can be a part of furthering the Gospel here in the United States: by making policy decisions that align with Judeo-Christian truths,” she added.

The trip concluded with a brief tour of the U.S. Capitol building, led by Government Dean Robert Hurt, a former congressman, and Goeglein.

“Anyone can read a book or take notes during a lecture, but being able to gain insight from individuals who actually do this stuff in the real world is invaluable and sets us in the School of Government apart from others at schools who don’t have opportunities like this,” Phillipps said. “Experiences like these are the reason I came to college.”

The School of Government regularly sponsors trips to the nation’s capital as a supplement to classroom learning. Students have visited multiple embassies, the Pentagon, and various institutions like the Heritage Foundation.

“It is hard to imagine a better opportunity for our Helms School pre-law students who were given the opportunity to engage directly with lawyers and parties involved in two of the most important religious liberty cases (Groff v Dejoy and 303 Creative v Elenis) currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court,” Hurt said. “We are grateful to each of our guests, to Tim Goeglein, and to the Heritage Foundation for making this visit possible. It is our hope and prayer that this experience will prepare our students to pursue careers in the law and public service.”