James M. Black II Speaks at Conference Commemorating 40th Anniversary of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal

Falcon Rappaport & Berkman Partner James M. Black II recently spoke in Warsaw, Poland, at an international conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal. 

Held September 10–11, 2026, the anniversary program centered on the theme, “The Constitutional Tribunal in the Service of Rights and Freedoms.” The conference took place at the Constitutional Tribunal in Warsaw and brought together judges, legal scholars, government officials, and representatives of the international legal community.  

Jim participated in the conference’s second panel, “The Natural-Law Foundations of the Constitutional Order,” alongside Professor Zlatko M. Knežević, former President of the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Rev. Professor Stefan Mückl of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome; and Professor Ronald J. Rychlak of the University of Mississippi School of Law. The panel was moderated by Professor Justyn Piskorski, a Judge of the Constitutional Tribunal.  

“The Lamp That Never Dims” 

Jim’s presentation, titled “The Lamp That Never Dims: Natural Law – the Foundation of the Rule of Law and Constitutional Orders of the 21st Century,” explored the development of natural law and its enduring influence on constitutional government.  

Tracing legal philosophy from Classical Greece and Rome through the Enlightenment and the development of modern constitutional systems, Jim examined how the principle that certain rights exist beyond the authority of government has shaped both common law and civil law traditions. His remarks discussed thinkers including Aristotle, Cicero and Thomas Aquinas, as well as the influence of natural rights philosophy on the constitutional traditions of the United States and Poland.  

Jim devoted particular attention to Poland’s constitutional history, beginning with the Constitution of May 3, 1791, which he described as a product of the Enlightenment that incorporated concepts including national sovereignty, separation of powers and the rule of law. He also traced Poland’s constitutional development through the 20th century and the country’s return to democratic constitutional government, culminating in the Constitution of 1997 and its recognition of the inherent dignity of the individual as the source of rights and freedoms. 

Throughout his remarks, Jim emphasized that constitutionalism and the rule of law require continued attention and protection. He identified three central lessons: that natural law remains a living influence on modern constitutional systems, that constitutional government is fragile and requires vigilance, and that common law and civil law traditions ultimately converge around the principle of human dignity.  

As Jim concluded, the principles underlying constitutional government must continue to be “studied, articulated, defended, and handed on to future generations,” including through legal education, the courts and civic institutions.

An Ongoing Commitment to the Rule of Law 

Jim brings more than 40 years of experience in corporate and government compliance, government contracts, trade regulation and information technology to his practice at FRB. In addition to his work with the firm’s Corporate and Securities Group, he serves as an adjunct professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where he teaches Corporate Compliance and Ethics. 

Jim also serves as Vice President for North America and a United Nations Delegate of the World Jurist Association, an organization whose commitment to the rule of law was a recurring theme in his remarks in Warsaw. His participation in the Constitutional Tribunal’s anniversary conference reflects his longstanding involvement in legal education, professional ethics, international legal affairs and the advancement of the rule of law. 

Learn more about James M. Black II and FRB’s Corporate and Securities Group, or contact us to discuss how we can assist with corporate compliance, governance and related matters.