Visit Highlights Legal Innovation, Democratic Values, and U.S.-India Academic Exchange

SEATTLE, WA (TIP): Seattle University’s School of Law and Roundglass India Center welcomed a high-level delegation from India’s O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) for a pair of events that underscored the shared commitment of India and the United States to democracy, justice, and bilateral collaboration.
Seattle University (SU) and Jindal Global Law School enjoy a vibrant academic partnership that brings together students and faculty from both institutions. During spring break 2025, SeattleU law students traveled to New Delhi, India, for the course Indian Law and Legal Institutions: Artificial Intelligence and Access to Justice. The course offers a comparative framework to explore how the Indian and U.S. legal systems address the ethical use of AI in law and its potential to expand access to justice. SeattleU is reciprocating by hosting 30 students from Jindal Global Law School for a short course on AI, Law, and Technology. This program explores pressing legal and ethical questions posed by emerging technologies.
Led by JGU’s Founding Vice Chancellor, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the distinguished delegation included Justice U.U. Lalit, the 49th Chief Justice of India and Distinguished Jurist at JGU; Ambassador Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, former Indian Ambassador to France and Bahrain and Dean, Strategic & International Initiatives and Director General of the newly launched Motwani Jadeja Institute for American Studies at JGU; Professor Padmanabha Ramanujam, Dean of Academic Governance & Student Life at JGU; and Dr. Akhil Bhardwaj, Vice Dean and Director of International Affairs at JGU.

The visit highlighted the shared democratic values of India and the United States. On July 17, Justice U.U. Lalit, the 49th Chief Justice of India, headlined a Lunch & Learn event on Indian Supreme Court’s innovative approach to public interest litigation (event recording), co-hosted with SABAW and WSBA. That evening, an exclusive dinner at Seattle’s Rainier Club brought together judicial leaders, including U.S. Ninth Circuit Judge Eric Miller, the Consul General of India Prakash Gupta, and Washington Supreme Court justices, for a timely conversation with Justice Lalit on “The Role of Courts in Protecting Democracy in India,” led by Professor of Law and Roundglass India Center Executive Director Sital Kalantry.
“This visit reflects the India Center’s goals to connect India and the U.S. in collaborative dialogue, educate culturally competent leaders, and support initiatives that advance justice in both countries,” said Executive Director of Seattle University’s Roundglass India Center Sital Kalantry.

Founded by Professor of Law Sital Kalantry through a generous gift from Edifics and Roundglass Founder Sunny Singh in 2023, the Roundglass India Center at Seattle University continues to play a pivotal role connecting India and the U.S. through high-level speaker events, academic exchange, and innovative legal education initiatives.