Morton Schapiro withdraws as Georgetown Law commencement speaker after student petition, backlash
Morton Schapiro withdrew as Georgetown Law commencement speaker after a student petition and backlash over his views on Israel and Palestine. David Cole, a former ACLU National Legal Director and current GULC professor, will replace Schapiro as the commencement speaker.
Georgetown University Law Center announced that Morton Schapiro has withdrawn as their 2026 commencement speaker. The decision came after students launched a petition condemning his selection due to opinion essays he published on Israel and Palestine. Interim Dean Joshua Teitelbaum informed the student body that Schapiro decided to decline the invitation after learning of the students' concerns. Teitelbaum emphasized that this was Schapiro's decision, not the university's, citing Georgetown's commitment to free and open inquiry. David Cole, a former ACLU National Legal Director and current GULC professor, will replace Schapiro as the commencement speaker. Cole has litigated several cases before the Supreme Court, including Texas v. Johnson and Bostock v. Clayton County.
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