A forum on the role of the courts system in American society will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Bellingham City Council chambers, 210 Lottie St. The free forum will feature Washington State Court of Appeals Judge Mary Kay Becker; Raquel Montoya-Lewis, the chief judge of the Lummi Tribal Court; and local attorneys Deborra Garrett, Doug Hyldahl and Doug Shepherd. Western Washington University professor Sara Weir will moderate the forum. The university’s Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education, the Whatcom Bar Association and the city of Bellingham are sponsoring the event.