Justice Mary Yu ’93 J.D. Delivers 2026 Peace Through Law Lecture at Notre Dame London on the Death Penalty and the Pursuit of Justice | News | The Law School

Smiling woman in glasses, dark suit, pink shirt gestures while speaking at a University of Notre Dame podium. — *Justice Mary Yu ’93 J.D. delivering the 2026 Peace Through Law Lecture*

The 2026 Peace Through Law Lecture, Notre Dame Law School’s flagship event at Notre Dame London, brought together leading voices in global justice to examine the relationship between justice and the pursuit of peace. Held on Tuesday, April 21, in Trafalgar Hall, the annual lecture continues to serve as a cornerstone of the Law School’s international engagement in London.

“The Peace Through Law Lecture serves as a vehicle for elevating and highlighting Notre Dame London, and imprinting Notre Dame’s presence in the Greater London community,” said Professor Jimmy Gurulé, who helped establish the lecture series in 2015.

The Peace Through Law Lecture is an annual keynote lecture which explores the attainment of peace through the successful implementation of justice and the rule of law. Moving beyond the cessation of hostilities alone, the lecture promotes a broad definition of peace as a freedom from disturbance, discrimination, and other inequities, in order to support human flourishing. Each year, a distinguished legal scholar or practitioner is invited to lecture on how their work advances the attainment of peace through law.

A woman in glasses, pink shirt, and dark blazer smiles broadly, looking right. A man in a suit thoughtfully watches her. — *Justice Yu, Professor Jimmy Gurulé, and Justice Leona Theron in discussion*

The annual lecture series is generously supported by the Thomas F. Fay Peace Through Law Endowment for Excellence, established by University of Notre Dame alumnus Thomas F. Fay ’61. Fay has dedicated his legal career fighting for the victims of terrorism, including winning an unprecedented civil judgment against the Islamic Republic of Iran for the 1983 terrorist bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.

This year’s lecture was delivered by Notre Dame Law alumna Justice Mary Yu ’93 J.D., who recently retired from the Washington State Supreme Court. Her remarks centered on the death penalty, with particular focus on State v. Gregory. In 2018, Yu joined the unanimous ruling in the case that declared the state's death penalty unconstitutional due to its racially biased application. Drawing from her experience on the bench, Yu reflected on the legal and moral dimensions of capital punishment and the broader movement toward the abolition of the death penalty.

“Every year, we look for an important theme with broad legal, policy, and moral implications, and we make that the focus,” said Gurulé. “We wanted to draw attention to the issue of the death penalty in America to our colleagues abroad.”

A woman in a black, white, gold patterned headwrap and dress speaks from a dark podium, gesturing with her right hand. — *Justice Leona Theron delivering remarks following Justice Yu’s keynote lecture*

Following Justice Yu’s lecture, Justice Leona Theron of the Constitutional Court of South Africa offered commentary, bringing an international perspective to the discussion. The program also included closing remarks by Professor Michael Addo, director of the Notre Dame London Law Programme, and Professor Gurulé, as well as remarks from Justice Theron recognizing Justice Yu’s 2025 retirement. The evening concluded with an award presentation honoring Yu and a reception.

Inspired by the words of Pope Paul VI—“If you want peace, work for justice”—the Peace Through Law Lecture underscores the enduring relationship between justice and peace. The series emphasizes that lasting peace requires not only the cessation of violence and hostilities but also the advancement of fairness, accountability, and the pursuit of justice.