The 2025 Edward Ross Lecture in Litigation A Lawyer’s Role When the Rule of Law is Threatened
with Mark S. Zaid
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Duane Morris LLP Moot Court Room
About
Temple University Beasley School of Law presents the 2025 Edward Ross Lecture in Litigation, featuring remarks by Mark S. Zaid, a Washington D.C.-based attorney who represents former and current federal employees in matters related to national security, international law, foreign sovereign and diplomatic immunity, and the Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts. Mr. Zaid will deliver brief remarks and then will address questions from Professor Elizabeth Lippy in a fireside chat.
Register Now
Registration for this event is closed. Any questions, please reach out to Nicole Regis Eisenstein at nicole.regis@temple.edu.
About the Speaker
Mark S. Zaid
Attorney, Mark S. Zaid, P.C.
Executive Director and Founder, James Madison Project
Mark S. Zaid is a nationally recognized Washington, D.C.-based attorney whose practice centers on national security law, government accountability, and the protection of whistleblowers. He has built a distinguished career representing intelligence and military officers, federal employees, journalists, and whistleblowers in complex litigation involving security clearances, the Freedom of Information Act, and constitutional claims.
In 2019, Mr. Zaid was co-counsel for the intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint led to the first impeachment of President Donald Trump, stemming from Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. His advocacy in that case placed him at the center of a historic constitutional moment and underscored his commitment to defending the rule of law.
In 2025, Zaid again made headlines when President Trump revoked his security clearance via presidential memorandum, a move widely criticized as politically retaliatory. Zaid is currently challenging the revocation in federal court, arguing that it represents an unconstitutional abuse of executive power and a threat to the legal profession’s ability to represent clients in national security matters.
Beyond litigation, Zaid is a respected educator, teaching continuing legal education courses for the D.C. Bar on FOIA, security clearances, and whistleblower protections. He is also the founder of the James Madison Project and co-founder of Whistleblower Aid, organizations dedicated to transparency and the defense of democratic principles.