With winds of change in Washington, what should Christian communicators anticipate for the future of First Amendment freedoms in the courts? Join Christian legal experts for an eye-opening NRB Convention panel discussion on “What to Expect in the Next Four Years,” led by NRB general counsel Mike Farris.
“We are in a highly volatile environment for the twin issues of religious freedom and freedom of speech,” said Farris, who will moderate the discussion. “There are a number of cases pending in the courts that provide both opportunities and some that pose dangers.”
As NRB’s general counsel, Farris files amicus briefs in key cases, monitors judicial nominations, and litigates directly for issues relevant to religious broadcasters and communicators. Through its Office of General Counsel, NRB regularly engages in legal actions to prevent pernicious and unconstitutional efforts from trampling on basic religious rights.
Farris expects the panel to highlight both the potential for progress and the challenges ahead: “There are clear opportunities for advancement of our priorities with the changes in Washington, while in many states, there will be efforts to block all such progress and curtail our understanding of our traditional First Amendment liberties,” he said.
Farris is a constitutional appellate litigator and long-standing leader of Christian organizations. He has written 15 books, numerous law review articles, and countless pieces in the popular press. As the founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and Patrick Henry College, he has had a significant impact on education and legal advocacy. In 2017, Farris took on the role of president, CEO, and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the world’s largest Christian legal organization. Under Farris’ leadership, ADF successfully represented clients in nine U.S. Supreme Court cases, with eight wins, including NIFLA v. Becerra—where Mike personally argued before the court and gained a victory for California’s pro-life pregnancy centers—and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the landmark case that overturned Roe v. Wade.
“Our panelists are not commentators,” noted Farris. “They are the actual warriors on the front lines of these major battles.”
Farris will be joined by the following experts advocating for free speech and faith:
- Ryan Bangert serves as senior vice president for strategic initiatives and special counsel to the president at Alliance Defending Freedom. Bangert oversees ADF’s Blackstone Fellowship, government relations, and corporate engagement teams. Before joining ADF, Bangert served as deputy first assistant attorney general and deputy for legal counsel Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and as deputy for civil litigation for Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley. Prior to his government service, Bangert was a litigation partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. in Dallas and clerked for Judge Patrick Higginbotham on the Fifth Circuit. He earned his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
- Brad Dacus is president at Pacific Justice Institute. In 1997, Dacus founded the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI), which has since grown into one of the largest Christian non-profit organizations, offering legal—free of charge—services to defend faith and family. He has made numerous appearances on a variety of platforms, including FOX News, NewsMax TV and “Good Morning America.” Presently, Dacus hosts nationally the “Dacus Report,” “The Legal Edge,” and PJI’s TV show, “Faith and Law.” Dacus has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and the California state legislature on First Amendment rights and freedoms. Dacus earned his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.
- Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. is president and chief executive officer of First Liberty Institute. Shackelford is a constitutional scholar who has argued before the United States Supreme Court, testified before the U.S. House and Senate and has won numerous landmark First Amendment and religious liberty cases, including three landmark religious liberty victories in the U.S. Supreme Court — Kennedy v. Bremerton, Carson v. Makin and American Legion v. America Humanist Association. Mr. Shackelford is on the Board of Trustees of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society.
- Mathew D. Staver, Esq. is founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, Liberty Counsel Action, Faith and Liberty, Covenant Journey, and Covenant Journey Academy. Staver has over 350 legal opinions, authored eight scholarly law review publications, and many articles and books. He has argued in many federal and state courts, including three landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including a 9-0 victory in Shurtleff City of Boston, which rejected the 1971 opinion of Lemon v. Kurtzman that distorted the First Amendment for 51 years. Staver hosts daily radio programs, “Freedom’s Call” and “Faith and Freedom,” and a weekly television program, “Freedom Alive.”
Don’t miss this important forum for insight into the key legal challenges and opportunities of the day. The NRB Legal Forum, “What to Expect in the Next Four Years,” will take place on Wednesday, February 26, from 4:00 p.m.–4:50 p. m. at NRB 2025.
The NRB 2025 International Christian Media Convention is in Grapevine, Texas, February 24–27, 2025. Register at nrbconvention.org and add the forum to your schedule at this link.