# Back At The Mayflower

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/back-at-the-mayflower/
- Published: 2026-11-13T04:58:09+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T05:24:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/volokh/2026/11/12/back-at-the-mayflower/
- Topics: Politics

## Key points

- The Mayflower convention sold out almost immediately.
- A new format replaced breakout panels with ballroom showcases.
- Organisers must find a venue for next year’s 40th anniversary.

## Summary

The first day of the Federalist Society’s 2026 National Lawyers Convention brought attendees back to Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, but demand far exceeded the venue’s capacity. The registration list filled almost immediately, leaving students and longtime members on a waiting list; the author says next year’s 40th anniversary will require a decision about a larger venue.

The convention also introduced a new format, with all panels held in the Grand Ballroom and other rooms used for overflow, alongside smaller hosted lunches. The author found the programme less exhausting but missed choosing among concurrent panels and noted that fewer sessions mean fewer speaking opportunities. This year’s panels were framed around phrases from the Declaration of Independence.

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