New $10 million gift to expand work of Duke Law’s Bolch Judicial Institute
Duke University has received a $10 million gift from RaceTrac, the Atlanta-based convenience store company, to expand the work of the Bolch Judicial Institute at Duke Law School. The gift honors RaceTrac’s chairman emeritus Carl Bolch, Jr., and his wife Susan Bass Bolch, who founded the Institute in 2018 with an inaugural $10 million gift.
“As we celebrate Duke’s Centennial and look ahead to our second century, this gift will significantly enhance our commitment to advancing the rule of law through education and outreach,” said Duke President Vincent E. Price. “We are grateful to Carl and Susan Bolch for their vision and to RaceTrac for expanding the Institute’s impact.”
The Bolch Judicial Institute promotes judicial independence and the rule of law through education, scholarship, and public engagement. RaceTrac’s new gift will allow the Institute to expand programs for international judges, develop civic education initiatives, and enhance existing offerings such as its master of laws program for sitting judges, publications, and symposia.
The gift is structured as a matching endowment, meaning RaceTrac will match up to $10 million in additional funds raised by the Institute, creating a lasting foundation for growth.
“This gift is a tremendous vote of confidence in the Institute’s efforts,” said Kerry Abrams, James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke Dean of the School of Law. “It’s also a fitting tribute to Carl and Susan, whose vision continues to guide our work to educate judges, advance judicial independence, and improve the administration of justice.”
The gift also honors the Institute’s founding director, David F. Levi, who served as dean of Duke Law for 11 years and is now president of the American Law Institute. Levi previously served as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor Carl and Susan’s foresight or David Levi’s leadership,” said Paul W. Grimm, the Institute’s current director and retired U.S. District Court judge. “This gift ensures we can fulfill our mission even as courts face dramatic changes, from the rise of generative AI to growing threats to judicial independence.”
The Bolch Judicial Institute builds on more than a decade of judicial education at Duke Law, beginning with the Master of Judicial Studies LLM program launched in 2011. Today, the Institute offers a wide range of programs for judges in the U.S. and abroad, publishes Judicature (a scholarly journal on judging), and hosts conferences and seminars that bring together legal leaders to address challenges in the justice system.
It also awards the Bolch Prize for the Rule of Law and the Raphael Lemkin Rule of Law Guardian Medal, recognizing individuals and organizations that demonstrate extraordinary dedication to the rule of law.
“At RaceTrac, we believe in the power of community and education to drive positive change,” said Melanie Isbill, RaceTrac’s chief brand officer. “The Bolch Institute’s commitment to advancing legal education and fostering justice aligns with our mission to support initiatives that enhance society.”
Carl Bolch Jr., a 1967 Duke Law graduate, credited the rule of law as a foundation for his business success. One of his first major decisions as CEO was to introduce self-service gasoline—then illegal in some states. He worked to change laws and proved skeptics wrong.
“We not only didn’t lose money, it was the best business decision I ever made,” Bolch said in a 2018 interview.
“Judicature magazine, our unique master’s degree for sitting judges, our civics education initiatives, and the Bolch and Lemkin Prizes all shine light on those who devote their lives to the rule of law,” added Susan Bolch.
