02.29.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Modern Day

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

This month, we’ve looked back at a few figures who made the legal field more inclusive and changed the course of history. Their contributions paved the way for countless Black attorneys and legal scholars working today. So, to close out this Black History Month, let’s recognize the Black legal leaders of today who are continuing the legacy of their predecessors. Read more about each leader by selecting the triangle to the left of their name.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

While she spent most of her adolescence in Miami, Ketanji Brown Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., where she now spends her days as a Supreme Court Justice.[1] After President Biden appointed her in 2022, Jackson became the first Black woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. Before this significant accomplishment, Jackson held several other positions, including a clerkship for Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer and serving as Vice Chair and Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission.[2] Despite being a new Justice, Jackson has already established her voice in the court, having already written a few solo dissents in her first term alone.[3]

[1] “The Current Court: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Supreme Court Historical Society. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://supremecourthistory.org/supreme-court-justices/associate-justice-ketanji-brown-jackson/

[2] “Ketanji Brown Jackson,” Oyez. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://www.oyez.org/justices/ketanji_brown_jackson

[3] Adam Liptak, “In Her First Term, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson ‘Came to Play,’ The New York Times, July 7, 2023. Accessed February 25, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/07/us/supreme-court-ketanji-brown-jackson.html

Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz

Stacey Abrams

Though she grew up in Mississippi, Stacey Abrams literally and figuratively became a representative of Georgia. A Spelman College and Yale Law School graduate, Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives for eleven years and became minority leader in 2010.[1] In 2018, Abrams founded Fair Fight, an initiative that addresses voter suppression.[2] Abrams rose to prominence that same year when she announced her Georgia governor campaign. Despite losing, she was cemented as the first Black woman in a gubernatorial race to win a major party’s primary. During the 2020 Presidential and Senate elections, the media credited Abrams as the leading reason behind the Democratic win in Georgia.[3] Abrams is also a prolific novelist in addition to her political accomplishments.[4]

[1] Emma Rothberg, “Stacey Abrams,” National Women’s History Museum. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/stacey-abrams.

[2] “Meet Our Founder,” Fair Fight. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://fairfight.com/about-stacey-abrams/.

[3] Emma Rothberg, supra.

[4] “Meet our Founder,” supra.

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Bryan Stevenson

While finishing his degree at Harvard Law School, Bryan Stevenson began his exemplary career by working at the Southern Center for Human Rights to represent death row inmates.[1] The experience motivated Stevenson to leave his full-time position with SCHR in Atlanta and move to Alabama, where he founded the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), a non-profit human rights organization.[2] Stevenson and EJI have argued and won numerous cases concerning prisoner rights and death sentences of innocent inmates.[3] In 1990, Stevenson took on the case of Walter McMillian, a black man who, in 1988, had been falsely accused of the murder of a white woman.[4] Stevenson’s efforts resulted in McMillian’s release from prison in 1993. In 2014, Stevenson published a best-selling novel about the case, Just Mercy, which has since been adapted into a film starring Michael B. Jordan (as Stevenson) and Jamie Foxx (as MacMillian).[5]

[1] “Bryan A. Stevenson – Biography,” NYU School of Law. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.biography&personid=20315.

[2] Meg Grant, “Bryan Stevenson,” People, November 27, 1995. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://people.com/archive/bryan-stevenson-vol-44-no-22/.

[3] “Bryan Stevenson,” Equal Justice Initiative. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://eji.org/bryan-stevenson/.

[4] Meg Grant, “Bryan Stevenson,” People.

[5] Id.

Photo by James Duncan Davidson

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris has steadily climbed up the legal and political ladders for most of her life. After working as an assistant district attorney for the prosecutor’s office in Oakland, California, Harris eventually ran for District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003 against her former boss.[1] Despite the close race, Harris won and became the first Black woman in California’s history to be elected to the position.[2] Harris nabbed an even tighter victory in 2010 when she narrowly won the race for Attorney General for California; Harris beat her opponent, Steve Cooley, by only 0.8 percentage points.[3] As Attorney General, she won a $20 billion mortgage settlement for California homeowners.[4] In 2017, Harris was sworn into the Senate, and by 2019, she announced her campaign for President of the United States.[5] Though Harris eventually dropped out of the race, she joined Joe Biden as his running mate. Upon the two winning the 2020 Presidential Election, Harris became the first female, first Black, and first Asian Vice President of the United States.

[1] Catherine Kim, Zack Stanton, “55 Things You Need to Know About Kamala Harris,” POLITICO, August 11, 2020. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/08/11/kamala-harris-vp-background-bio-biden-running-mate-2020-393885

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] “Kamala Harris: The Vice President,” The White House. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-harris/

[5] Andrea Wurzburger, “Vice President Kamala Harris’ Career in Photos,” People, October 20, 2023. Accessed February 26, 2024. https://people.com/politics/kamala-harris-career-in-photos/

Photo by Gage Skidmore

Benjamin Crump

An avid activist since his days at Florida State University, Ben Crump has made it his business to defend the Black community.[1] In the wake of numerous reports of police brutality against Black Americans and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Crump became known widely when he represented the family of Trayvon Martin.[2] Although the court acquitted George Zimmerman—the man who shot and ultimately killed Martin—of murder, Crump acquired a million-dollar settlement with Zimmerman’s homeowner’s association on behalf of the Martin family.[3] Crump went on to represent the families of Michael Brown, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, winning large settlements for them, too.[4] In addition to these cases, Crump also defended the citizens of Flint, Michigan, during the ongoing Flint Water Crisis and spurred a suit against Johnson & Johnson after reports that its powder had led to several cases of ovarian cancer in Black and Hispanic women. [5] [6]

[1] Gareth Evans, “How Ben Crump became America’s go-to police brutality lawyer,” BBC News, May 29, 2021. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57038162

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] “Flint Water Crisis & Ben Crump,” Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.pintas.com/resources/flint-crisis-ben-crump/

[6] Dawn Onley, “Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump goes after Johnson and Johnson for marketed baby powder to Black women,” The Grio, February 26, 2019. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://thegrio.com/2019/02/26/civil-rights-attorney-benjamin-crump-files-class-action-lawsuit-johnson-and-johnson/

Photo attributed to Lorie Shaull

Michelle Obama

As one of the most recognized and admired female figures in history, Michelle Obama is a woman who requires no introduction. A Chicago native and a Harvard Law graduate, Obama got her start in corporate law, where she specialized in intellectual property.[1] Eventually, Obama sought a new path and dedicated herself to public service. This included serving as an assistant commissioner of planning and development at the Chicago City Hall and developing the University of Chicago’s first community service program while working as the Associate Dean of Student Services.[2] When her husband, Barack, was elected President of the United States, Obama became the first Black First Lady of the United States. In her role, Obama launched several successful programs, such as Let’s Move!, which addressed childhood obesity by encouraging children to be physically active and pushing for healthy lunches in US schools.[3] Obama also spearheaded Let Girls Learn, which, with the assistance of the Peace Corps, the US Department of State, and other federal agencies, promoted quality education for girls and young women across the globe.[4] In 2018, Obama published her best-selling memoir Becoming, which charted her journey of growth and the lessons she has learned throughout her extraordinary life.

[1] Rosalind Ross, “The woman behind Obama,” Chicago Times, January 20, 2007. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080215230648/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/221458%2CCST-NWS-mich21.article

[2] “Michelle Obama,” The White House Historical Association. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/michelle-obama

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

Photo by EJ Hersom

Barack Obama

For the rest of history, the name Barack Obama will always be synonymous with “the first Black President of the United States.” It was considered a historic moment when Chief Justice Roberts swore Obama into office on January 20, 2009. However, technically, this wasn’t the first time that Obama had accomplished such a feat. Funny enough, while attending Harvard Law School, Obama became the first Black president of the Harvard Law Review, attracting media attention even back then.[1] After graduating from college, Obama focused his efforts on rebuilding communities in the US. For example, when he first moved to Chicago, Obama collaborated with local churches to reestablish communities badly affected by the mass closure of steel plants.[2] His penchant for civil rights influenced his work as a lawyer and eventually as a US Senator.[3] In 2007, he began his presidential campaign, a challenging yet ultimately rewarding journey, which resulted in his win over Senator John McCain in 2008. During his presidency, Obama achieved many triumphs, such as appointing several female justices to the Supreme Court, striking down “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies and thus paving the way for same-sex marriage, and adopting the Paris Climate Agreement, which helped decrease greenhouse emissions.[4]

[1] “President Barack Obama,” Obama White House Archives. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/president-obama

[2] Barack Obama,” The White House Historical Association. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/barack-obama

[3] Id.

[4] David Von Drehle, “Honor and Effort: What President Obama Achieved in Eight Years,” Time, December 22, 2016. Accessed February 29, 2024. https://time.com/4616866/barack-obama-administration-look-back-history-achievements/

Photo by Lawrence Jackson

02.19.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Charles Hamilton Houston

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

Charles Hamilton Houston in undated photo taken sometime between 1940-50. Photographer unknown. From the Library of Congress NAACP collection of portraits of founders, board members, staff, branch officers and other prominent cultural, social and political figures. LOT 13074, no 249 [P&P].

Charles Hamilton Houston (September 3, 1895 – April 22, 1950)

Born in Washington, D.C., Charles Hamilton Houston first encountered the legal field through his father, a hard-working attorney in the nation’s capital. However, his father’s exemplary career did not solely inspire Houston to go down a similar path. After graduating from Amherst College and teaching at Howard University, Houston enlisted in the military when the First World War began. During this time, Houston experienced tremendous racial discrimination. He came to a bewildering epiphany: he served a country that did not even value his life and scorned his existence. “I made up my mind,” Houston once said, “that if I got through this war, I would study law and use my time fighting back for men who could not strike back.”[1]

Houston returned to the U.S. in April 1919, the beginning of a period now called the “Red Summer.” This period of violence resulted from several events. For one, the war had further encouraged the Great Migration, a mass emigration of Blacks to the North and the Midwest from the South, seeking to escape increasing racial violence and find better job opportunities. At the same time, the veterans were returning home from the war. This led to a flurry of emotions and opposing attitudes. Many White veterans and civilians were upset about Blacks “taking” jobs that Whites felt rightly belonged to them. Additionally, Whites feared that many of the Black veterans, now equipped with more experience and military training, would no longer allow themselves to be subjected to the racial status quo established in the U.S. On the other hand, many Black veterans were returning from foreign countries where they had been treated better and resented coming home to a country that did not appreciate their service. These rising tensions culminated in some of the bloodiest riots in American history, the worst occurring in Elaine, Arkansas, where at least 100 Black Americans were killed. However, this was notably one of the first times in U.S. history that the Black community had collectively fought back against racial violence.

These events colored Houston’s law school education when he entered Harvard Law School. While there, Houston became the first Black student elected to Harvard Law Review’s editorial board.  He later obtained a Sheldon Traveling Fellowship, which allowed him to study at the University of Madrid and earn a Civil Law degree. After graduating, Houston returned to Washington and joined his father’s law practice, one of the first Black law firms established in D.C.

A foundational tenant of Houston’s approach to the law was the importance of defending and protecting the Black community. He felt that Black lawyers had an obligation to argue on behalf of their community because White lawyers could not be depended on to fight against racial injustice. Eventually, Houston began teaching part-time at Howard Law School and was appointed vice-dean in 1929.  In his new role, Houston made it his mission to turn Howard Law School into a “training ground” for future civil rights lawyers, such as Thurgood Marshall. Before long, Houston turned the law school into a formidable institution, helping them to attain accreditation from the American Bar Association.

In 1935, Houston left Howard to work as the first special counsel for the NAACP. Houston’s main objective was to diminish and eventually abolish Jim Crow laws, which he did through his arguments in several civil rights cases. However, Houston’s most impactful contribution was his strategy to debunk the “separate but equal” myth from Plessy v Ferguson (1897). He first used this tactic in Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada (1939), arguing that it was unconstitutional to prevent a Black applicant from attending a law school “when no comparable facility for Blacks existed in the State.” Winning that case proved the effectiveness of Houston’s ingenious approach.

Houston’s efforts officially paid off in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), when the courts declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Unfortunately, Houston passed away four years earlier, in 1950, before seeing the fruits of his labor. However, his pupil, Thurgood Marshall, made the winning argument in the case. So, perhaps Houston’s spirit was present that day.  

[1] “Charles Hamilton Houston.” Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery, legacyofslavery.harvard.edu/alumni/charles-hamilton-houston. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

Other Sources:

“Charles Hamilton Houston.” Separate Is Not Equal: Brown V. Board of Education, americanhistory.si.edu/brown/history/3-organized/charles-houston.html. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Charles Hamilton Houston.” NAACP, naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/civil-rights-leaders/charles-hamilton-houston. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Long Road to Brown: Cases and Lawyers: Charles Hamilton Houston.” Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise, www.pbs.org/beyondbrown/history/charleshouston.html. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Red Summer: The Race Riots of 1919.” The National WWI Museum and Memorial, http://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/red-summer. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

“Racial Violence and the Red Summer.” National Archives, http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/wwi/red-summer. Accessed 18 Feb. 2024.

02.13.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Pauli Murray

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

“Pauli Murray approx. 1955” by FDR Presidential Library & Museum is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Pauli Murray (November 20, 1910 – July 1, 1985)

A frustrating truth about history is that for all the trailblazers and visionaries who fought for change, only a select few go down as household names. However, the present allows us to rediscover those figures that helped to ensure the very future we now sit in. One such figure is Pauli Murray.

As soon as they were born, Anne Pauline “Pauli” Murray could not ignore the subject of race. The violence of slavery impacted their family’s genetic makeup, as many of Murray’s ancestors were the children of white enslavers and enslaved Black women.  However, this resulted in what Murray described as a “mini-United Nations”[1] and that simply by existing, they defied an era shaped by segregation.

At age three, Murray’s mother died, and their father arranged for Murray to leave Baltimore and live with their maternal aunt and grandparents in Durham, North Carolina. Murray thrived in Durham, teaching themselves to read by age five. In school, Murray excelled academically and had their hands in as many extracurriculars as possible, from president of the literary society to editor-in-chief of the school newspaper to forward on the basketball team. It’s no wonder that, throughout their life, Murray would be known for wearing many hats.

In 1926, Murray graduated high school at 15 with qualifications to attend any university. While they dreamed of attending Columbia, the university did not accept women then. This reality of segregation by gender also infuriated them. Instead, Murray enrolled at Hunter College- a racially integrated women’s college in New York City.

During and after college, Murray began to question their gender and their sexuality and officially changed their name from “Anne Pauline” to “Pauli.” Murray experimented with dressing more masculine and even asked doctors to examine them, seeking gender-affirming treatments that did not exist then. Questions about their gender identity often influenced Murray’s writings about gender equality.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Murray truly stepped into their role as a civil rights activist. When Murray applied to the University of North Carolina for graduate school, they were rejected because of their race. In response, Murray began a letter-writing campaign, writing to several officials, such as the university presidents, newspapers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The First Lady responded, and this correspondence led to a decades-long friendship between Pauli and Eleanor. Additionally, on a trip from New York to California in 1940, Murray and a friend were arrested when they refused to sit in the back of the bus. Later, while working for the Worker’s Defense League, Murray assisted in the case of a black sharecropper who had been sentenced to life for killing his white landlord during an argument. These events, among others, inspired Murray to pursue a legal education.

In 1941, Murray began attending Howard University Law School and was the only woman in their class. The experience led Murray to coin the term “Jane Crow,” similar to Jim Crow but focused on the inherent misogynoir of segregation. Murray continued to fight for equal rights, often leading protests and sit-ins on Howard University’s campus.

More than anything, it was Pauli Murray’s words which defined their life and, ultimately, the lives of so many others. In 1948, Murray published their first book, States’ Laws on Race and Color, a 700-hundred-page analysis and critique of segregation in the United States. The book greatly influenced Thurgood Marshall, who “referred to the work as ‘the bible’ of Brown v. Board of Education.”[2] A case argued by Murray and attorney Dorothy Kenyon for women to have the equal right to serve on juries inspired Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the point where, when Ginsburg wrote her brief for Reed v. Reed, a landmark decision that made differential treatment on the basis of sex unconstitutional, Ginsburg credited Murray as a co-author.[3]

Murray acquired many other accolades, like being the first Black person to receive a JSD from Yale Law School and the first Black woman to become an ordained priest in the Episcopal Church. Though Murray’s name and life may not be familiar to some, their contributions have made an invaluable mark on history and the future as we know it. In 2024, Murray is scheduled to have their face featured on the U.S. Quarter, a tribute that should encourage more people to recognize Pauli Murray’s name.

[1] “Life Story: Pauli Murray (1910-1985).” Women & the American Story by the New-York Historical Society, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). wams.nyhistory.org/confidence-and-crises/world-war-ii/pauli-murray/.

[2] Emma Rothberg. “Pauli Murray.” National Women’s History Museum, (2021). http://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/pauli-murray.

[3] Philippa Strum. “Pauli Murray’s Indelible Mark on the Fight for Equal Rights.” American Civil Liberties Union, (June 24, 2020). https://www.aclu.org/issues/womens-rights/pauli-murrays-indelible-mark-fight-equal-rights.

Other sources:

Julian Cardillo. “Pauli Murray, Civil Rights Icon and Former Professor, to Appear on American Quarter.” Brandeis University, (Feb. 7, 2024). http://www.brandeis.edu/75/stories/pauli-murray-quarter.html.

“Pauli Murray.” Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). msa.maryland.gov/msa/educ/exhibits/womenshallfame/html/murray.html.

“Pauli Murray As a LGBTQ+ Historical Figure.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pauli-murray-lgbtq-historical-figure.

“The Pioneering Pauli Murray: Lawyer, Activist, Scholar and Priest.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pioneering-pauli-murray-lawyer-activist-scholar-and-priest.

“Who Is the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray?” Pauli Murray Center for History and Social Justice, (last visited Feb. 13, 2024). http://www.paulimurraycenter.com/who-is-pauli.

02.05.24
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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Thurgood Marshall

For Black History Month, the Law Library will spotlight Black law figures throughout history and their contributions to the legal field. Each week, a different figure will be featured.

by Sydney Hamilton, 1L

Photo taken by Yoichi R. Okamoto on June 13, 1967.

Thurgood Marshall (June 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993)

History often remembers Thoroughgood “Thurgood” Marshall as a focused, articulate man who dedicated his life to the law and the people. However, as a kid growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, his high school teachers knew Marshall better for being a bit of a class clown with a rambunctious nature. Funny enough, his punishment for misbehaving turned out to be a glimpse into his future: sitting on a bench, reading the Constitution.

As a Black boy living in the inner city, Marshall recognized the effects of segregation. However, being uniquely familiar with the Constitution, he realized understanding and reshaping the law would be the key to eliminating this injustice. After high school, Marshall attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where his classmates included the soon-to-be-renowned poet Langston Hughes.  After a hazing incident with his fraternity earned him a two-week suspension, Marshall focused his attention and energy on his academics. His involvement in the debate club furthered his passion to become a lawyer. In 1930, Marshall graduated at the top of his class.

After marrying his wife, Viven, Marshall continued to work towards his goal. However, the ever-looming presence of racial discrimination nearly thwarted his plans. The University of Maryland School of Law rejected Marshall based on his race. Instead, he attended Howard University but still dealt with financial burdens. His mother pawned her wedding rings to pay for his tuition.

During law school, he began to formulate the perspectives and arguments that would later define his career. While there, he studied under Charles Hamilton Houston, the vice dean at the law school and later, the director of NAACP’s Legal Defense and Education Fund. Through Houston, Marshall better understood how the Constitution and the law could be used to extinguish racial discrimination. After graduating from Howard as valedictorian in 1933, Marshall moved back to Baltimore to take his first steps as a lawyer.

Back in Baltimore, Marshall opened his own practice, assisting clients even if they could not pay. Eventually, he dedicated more time to volunteering with the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP. One of Marshall’s first significant strides came in the case of Murray v. Pearson (1936). Just like Marshall, the University of Maryland Law School rejected Donald Murray because of the color of his skin. Marshall sued on Murray’s behalf and, assisting his mentor Houston, won the case.

Following this success, Marshall and Houston strategized how to chip away at the “separate but equal” doctrine from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that fueled segregation. In Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada (1938), the two men argued that the University of Missouri had violated Lloyd Gaines’s equal protection rights by rejecting him due to his race and thereby denying him legal education equivalent to what white students received. Winning this case set the stage for Marshall’s most memorable victory.

After Houston retired, Marshall took over Houston’s position at the NAACP. He continued to win several more cases before finally landing on the one that would forever impact history: Brown v. Board of Education (1954). In this case, which was five separate cases consolidated into one, Marshall argued that segregating the school system was unequal and unconstitutional. During the second hearing, Marshall stated that segregation evolved from a desire to keep “the people who were formerly in slavery as near to that stage as possible.” After much indecision and deliberation, the Supreme Court finally ruled that the “separate but equal” doctrine should not take precedence in the public education system.

In the years following that decision, Marshall was appointed as a federal judge and then Solicitor General before eventually being appointed as the first Black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967.  As a Justice, Marshall was known for his progressive views and strong moral compass, opposing the death penalty and ensuring the civil rights of all people. Marshall served 25 terms before retiring in 1991 as one of the greatest voices on the Supreme Court.

Sources:

Justice Thurgood Marshall profile – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment. United States Courts. (n.d.). https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/justice-thurgood-marshall-profile-brown-v-board

Brown v. Board of Education: The case that changed America. Legal Defense Fund. (2023, December 15). https://www.naacpldf.org/brown-vs-board/

History – Brown v. Board of Education Re-enactment. United States Courts. (n.d.). https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/history-brown-v-board-education-re-enactment

Thurgood Marshall. Oyez. (n.d.). https://www.oyez.org/justices/thurgood_marshall

01.18.24
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Movies that Every Law Student Should Watch (pt. 1)

Maybe you are a law student looking for a morale-boosting movie set in the legal profession or perhaps you cannot seem to escape thoughts about law school even in your free time. Either way, this new series, Movies that Every Law Student Should Watch, can act as your guide in navigating the world of movies related to the legal field. 

Note: All of the movies in this series can be borrowed from the Law Library (find them in person near the study aids or online here). 

Legally Blonde (2001) - IMDb
  1. Legally Blonde (2001)

Run-time: 96 min

Subjects: Criminal Law; Evidence; Lawyering: Advocacy

While it is likely that most of you have already watched this cult classic, I will not let that stop me from recommending it to you again. Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon, breaks all of the stereotypes held against her when she makes it into Harvard Law School. Though it may look like your typical early-00s romantic comedy, the film intermixes humor with invaluable lessons on friendship, female empowerment, and conquering impostor syndrome.

My Cousin Vinny (1992) - IMDb
  1. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Run-time: 119 min

Subjects: Criminal Procedure; Evidence; Lawyering: Advocacy

For a light-hearted take on legal proceedings, this movie is a must-watch. It follows the misadventures of a novice lawyer, Vinny Gambini, as he tries to defend his cousin against murder charges. While the film humorously portrays courtroom antics, lawyers have commended My Cousin Vinny for its accurate depiction of trial strategy and criminal procedure. 

The Paper Chase (film) - Wikipedia

  1. The Paper Chase (1973)

Run-time: 111 min

Subjects: Contracts, General 1L Curriculum

Though the movie is now over fifty years old, The Paper Chase portrayal of law school life is ever relevant and painfully realistic. You cannot help but root for the main character, Hart, as he tries to find his way through his first year at Harvard Law.

  1. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Run-time: 96 min

Subjects: Criminal Law; Lawyering: Advocacy; Evidence

12 Angry Men (1957) - IMDb

12 Angry Men is a riveting courtroom drama that focuses on the dynamics of a jury room. The film follows twelve jurors as they deliberate the guilt or innocence of a young man accused of murder. It provides valuable insights into the art of persuasion, reasonable doubt, and the importance of careful deliberation—essential skills for any law student.

I hope this list provides you with a good head-start as you begin your legal movie journey. Keep an eye out for the next installment in this series (Movies that Every Law Student Should Watch).

We would to hear from you. What is your favorite legal movie?

11.16.23
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Dear My 1L Self: Be Kind to Yourself

By Ralaya Evans, 3L

Congratulations! You are nearing the finish line and starting your 3L year. Knowing what I know now, there are a few things I wish I could have told you back when you were a 1L.

First, just as choosing to start anything, making the choice to start law school is a big decision and can bring about numerous uncertainties and challenges. One thing you should know is that you were brave to start this journey. You are now a 3L, and can honestly say that the legal language and community are different from anything you have ever experienced. By now, you have talked with many attorneys and several have stated that if they were given the chance to go back and choose law school again, they are not sure they would do it. So, I want you to know that this was a courageous choice. You graduate in less than a year and can now see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Second, do not ever be afraid or hesitant to reach out to professors for guidance. They are all so willing to lend a hand and give you some encouraging words. Every single professor you have had has been a mentor in some sense and are so genuinely in your corner. As you venture into classes of your choice, you will meet one professor in particular: Anjali Deshmukh. She is wise, honest, supportive, and never too busy to listen. She is a mentor that you will admire and appreciate forever.

Professor Anjali Deshmukh

Third, try to remain positive. When it is time for your exams, approach them with a positive mindset and do not speak negative words to yourself. For example, do not tell yourself “I am not prepared,” or “I should have studied more.” This will only put you in a more anxious mindset for the exam and could set you up for failure. It is normal to be “stressed,” but do not let it overtake you. You are prepared…..and even if not….it is too late to worry about that once the exam starts.

Fourth, speaking of exams……your best preparation will be completing practice exams. This applies to all exams you will take during law school (including the MPRE). Practice exams will ease most anxiety you have around taking the exams. They will also help be able to have an idea of how many questions you are able to complete in the normal exam period (3-4 hours). This is the best way to get quicker at issue spotting and completing exams in the usual timeframe provided. I promise you will be happy that you did this – three/four hours go by quicker than you would think when you are taking an exam.

All in all, take this advice but also know that you did not do bad at all. You made it this far. You have a community behind you: your family, friends, classmates, and professors. You just have to remember to be kind to yourself, do not worry too much, and study in a smart way.

09.25.23
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Busting Some Common Law School Myths

by Ralaya Evans, 3L

Not many incoming students know what to expect when they start law school, and only have common perceptions to cling on to. I believe that debunking a few myths can bring some clarity to 1Ls. So, what are some of the common myths about law school?

  • Law school is not a good place to look for long-life friends because it is so competitive. This is false for many individuals who choose this career path. There is a competitive aspect to law school, however, many students also want to build lasting relationships. Law school is where many individuals build a community and bond with others from similar or different walks of life. Further, law school can bring several different stressors and exhaustion that only other law students will understand. The fact that the individuals around you can relate to your experience, alone, often brings a sense of comfort and belonging.  On a more positive note, law school is also where you begin to start networking and building relationships for post-graduation.
  • It is nearly impossible to maintain a social life during law school. In all honesty, law school is time-consuming. However, many students, professors, and lawyers would note maintaining a social life as one of the most important things to do during your law journey.  With a little organization and preplanning, it can become easy to maintain a social life. An easy way to work social time in is to make a schedule carving out time blocks for studying/reading and free time(etc). You can spend the free time however you choose, but it is good to plan a stopping point for work. Use this time to step away from school work and do something that makes you happy.
  • Being a person who is good at debating, automatically means that you will excel in law school. Legal disputes and arguments are art and require many skills. Being good at making a logical point, does not translate to being a great lawyer. There are several other qualities that make someone a good attorney (good listener, great researcher, detail-oriented, etc). Further, law school is more than arguments, oral or written. There are different forms of law that require a lawyer to be good at different things.
  • The smartest students are those with the best grades. If you have made it to law school, it is basically understood that you are smart and competent. There will be students who appear smarter than everyone else. However, there is a difference between being smart and knowing what to look for/pay attention to. Being smart does not equate to having the patience to (1) study or learn how to take exams and (2) learning your best study techniques. Law school is also about self-awareness. What will help with success in law school is the combination of all these things.

Law school is a learning curve for all. But, the perception of law school is often scarier than the reality.

09.13.23
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I know what (legal research) you did last summer: researching innocence

In this blog series, real GSU law students tell you about their legal research experiences over the summer.

by Carlos Becerra-Gomez , 2L

During my junior year of undergrad, I took a course called, “Eyewitness Testimony” taught by the famous psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Loftus.  Throughout the course, we learned about how unreliable eyewitness testimonies can be, but how the general public, including juries, put a lot of weight on eyewitnesses during a criminal trial.  Dr. Loftus introduced us to the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to liberate those who have been innocently incarcerated.  After such introduction, I was intrigued by the project, and I decided to attend law school to be somehow a part of this organization.  As soon as my first semester of law school ended, I started to send out my resume and a cover letter to multiple Innocence Projects around the country.  Fortunately, the project from my hometown emailed me back and offered me an internship position.  It was impossible to say no, so I gladly took the position. 

“I decided to attend law school to be somehow a part of this organization.  As soon as my first semester of law school ended, I started to send out my resume and a cover letter to multiple Innocence Projects around the country. “

On my first day, I hit the ground running and I was immediately assigned to a case: a 1980’s homicide.  This particular case was deemed a cold case for almost twenty years until our client was tried and convicted in the early 2000s.  Sadly, our client has been imprisoned for almost twenty years for a crime that he consistently claims he did not commit.  The managing attorney provided me with at least 1,000 pages worth of records for me to thoroughly review.  The attorney asked me to read each record to find anything that could be valuable to our client and his innocence.  At first, I felt absolutely overwhelmed; a human being’s life was placed in my hands.  Each day I was reading these records was one more day he was spending in prison.  That overwhelming feeling turned into motivation to give my best effort to help our client prove his innocence.

“Each day I was reading these records was one more day he was spending in prison.“

My primary duties were to investigate and read all police reports, identify witnesses and potential suspects, analyze the murder scene photographs and videos, analyze the incriminating DNA data, locate and interview these witnesses and suspects.  Each day consisted of something different, we even spent hours driving throughout the state just to locate witnesses and suspects.  I quickly realized that this type of research was completely different to the traditional research work a legal intern does, but I absolutely loved it.  Every day I came into the office was a new day to challenge myself to find something helpful for our client.  There were some days that were harder than others, such as watching the brutal crime scene video that showed the lifeless body in a pool of blood.  Days like those made me truly realize that this was not just another day in law school, but this was real life.

One of my proudest moments during the summer was when I found a huge piece of evidence that had not been previously discovered that affected the state’s argument.  In fact, the managing attorney admitted that she never had seen that piece of evidence before.  I was happy to be able to contribute to the case in such a drastic way, but I was also motivated to continue to find other useful evidence.  At the end of the summer, the managing attorney asked me to write an investigative legal memorandum that included my own theory of who committed the murder and why.  In conclusion, I absolutely loved this experience and it only reassured my desire to work for the project or indigent defense to help those in need of justice and representation.

09.12.23
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Law School and Life Lessons

by Ralaya Evans, 3L

In starting my 3L year, I began asking myself how I would describe my growth, what I have learned and my law school journey thus far. I can honestly say that these past two years have taught me so much. I have matured in many ways that I believed myself to already be mature.

So, what have I learned so far?

Confidence. Law school taught me how to be more sure of myself. Even when I was not completely certain that I would be great in an interview, present in class, take an exam or more, I learned that second-guessing myself only encouraged a negative perspective. Building confidence in myself and knowing where I needed to improve were the keys to my success. There were times I would have to fake it. However, once I became aware of where I was lacking and what subjects were not my strong suit, I was able to plan a course of attack to get better at those things. Further, knowing where you may be falling short allows you not to be insecure in those things; you just view them as a chance for growth. It is best to own that you need the help and then do something about it.

Stress Management. Law school really taught me how to deal with stress, pressure, and difficult times. When I started law school, I had been out of school and in the workforce for about 3 years. I do believe that working before going to school prepared me for law school in numerous ways. However, law school taught me the most about stress and time management. I have continued to work throughout law school, as I have bills that need to be paid (of course). So, working, transitioning back into the mode of school, and going from having no responsibilities after work to having to complete assignments after was very stressful. However, I learned that even when I feel that I do not have any free time, I always do. I always have a few minutes to spare that I can take to myself and call my mom, grab dinner with my brother/friends, watch a show, etc. The goal is always to do something that I enjoy and will take my mind off of all of my responsibilities for a second. We are not all robots and “me” time is a must to prevent burnout.

Understanding, Patience, and Letting Go of the Need to Know. Law school can test your patience like no other. Everything seems to take forever. For example, we take exams and often have to wait several weeks until we know out grades. This was one of the hardest things about my 1L year: not knowing quick enough. So, I learned the art of waiting. Yes, I still want to know my grades immediately, but I also know I will not receive them quickly. That is just how law school works. Therefore, I take the exam and remind myself once I turn it in, nothing else is within my control. This ties back into the confidence aspect mentioned earlier. I know that I put the work in for the exams and that I did just fine. So, that helps me to wait comfortably and enjoy my Winter Break after fall semester or the beginning of summer after the spring semester.

To Have Realistic Expectations and to be Real With Myself. Before law school, I always made straight A’s. I have always cared so much about my grades and have always wanted to do exceptionally well at everything. However, school never required much effort on my part.  In law school, everyone is smart. Law school takes the top students of many schools and brings them together. Although your school will tell you school is not a competition, many things are viewed as a competition. Everyone wants to CALI. Everyone wants to be in the top percent. Everyone wants to be a member of groups, and maybe even President. It is not hard being surrounded by this; it is just very different from what we are most used to. I am now in an environment where everyone cares. It is a good thing but can cause disappointment at times. I have learned that not doing AMAZING on something does not mean failure. I have also learned that having to spend a little extra time on something to learn it doesn’t mean anything negative. I appreciate this lesson because it helped me learned that the only way to really prepare for challenges and spare myself unnecessary disappointed is to always be realistic with my expectations.

Since it is only September of 3L year, I know that I will learn more. And I welcome all of the lessons that law school will teach me.

09.06.23
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How I Prepared for My Summer Firm Job

by Ralaya Evans, 3L

As I started my 1L year, I remember the one aspect of law school that caused me the most anxiety was obtaining and working a summer job with a firm. I was unsure of myself and if I would be prepared to do the work. I thought that I had to be perfect. However, this ended up being one of my favorite parts of law school. It reinforced my desire to be an attorney and I learned so much each summer.

Obtaining a summer job is a process within itself. However, once you lock in a job, the preparation to be an asset starts. In preparation for the summer jobs, I found it important to research the firm and the type of work they do. The majority of firms have a website that details the type of law practiced there, the attorneys, and more. This was always my starting point.

Next, after researching, I would look at courses that align with their work. For example, if you are working at a Corporate firm, or planning to work at a Corporate firm, it would be a good idea to take Corporations. This way you are aware of the language, you have a foundation for the work, and everything you see and work on that summer is not completely new/foreign to you. Choosing to take courses that coincide with your chosen summer job is much more advice for 2Ls, as law students get to start choosing electives in the second year of law school.

Further, externships helped me prepare for my summer jobs. This is so helpful to those who are not sure what they want to practice yet. If you are stuck between a couple of practices, choose one and focus your externship on that. This will help you get some real practice in, work in the field and give you a better idea of what works for you and what does not work for you. In all honesty, this is also helpful to those who are certain about what they want to practice. Choosing an externship that aligns with your desired practice will either reinforce your choice of practice or let you know that you are open to other practices.

One of the biggest aspects of my preparation process that helped me get over the anxiety of summering was talking to professors and my mentor. Professors/Mentors have already gone through this process before and know what to expect. They also offer wise words and advice. In the end, you learn that summering is not something to be too anxious about. The firms know that you are still learning, and they are guiding and helping you learn while you work for them. Mistakes are expected and there will always be a learning curve. This is a mutually beneficial relationship and both the firm and you are important pieces to the puzzle.

Lastly, to prepare for a summer job, it is important to take a break. Some summer jobs start the very next week after finals and some give you a couple weeks off. No matter the length of time between the end of finals and the first day of your summer job, take a mental break after finals and let yourself breathe for as long as possible.

Summering is such a surreal experience. It provides irreplaceable practice and builds your confidence. It is not the end all be all, and it is not required to be successful as an attorney. However, if you are interested in doing it, I would say go for it!