Reflections on the Rodney King Case
Without better training and regulation of the use of force by police, we may see incidents like the King beating and George Floyd killing—and resulting turmoil—again.
Litigation Journal | Summer 2022: Experience Black
Volume 48, Issue 4
Features
On the Voting Rights Battlefield a Moment of Grace
Florida’s voters sought to make democracy more inclusive by allowing convicted felons to vote after their release from prison.
Why Dignity and Respect Matter in Our Courts
If defendants experience the authority and the process as unfair and coercive, no one should be surprised when a judge's rulings are not followed.
Fixing Batson
In theory, the rule prevents jurors from being excluded due to race; in practice, it doesn’t work. A group of lawyers came up with a plan for a better system.
Sua Sponte: A Judge Comments
A judge argues that the only way to eliminate discrimination in the use of peremptory strikes is to eliminate them.
Black Women Litigators: In Their Own Words
A panel discusses the particular challenges its members face as Black women litigators, including the factors that they think are most important for Black women seeking to become successful litigator…
The Fight for Racial Justice in the Garden State
New Jersey law uses the racial disparities of its criminal justice system to disproportionately exclude Black people from voting.
An Interview with Paulette Brown
The seasoned litigator and first woman of color to serve as president of the American Bar Association discusses her life and career.
Columns
Much Achieved, More to Do
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives have been part of the Litigation Section’s mission for decades and continue to expand.
"Democracies Die Behind Closed Doors" Damon J. Keith, In Memoriam
While participating in numerous groundbreaking decisions, Judge Keith actively and purposefully changing the landscape of the legal profession by hiring and mentoring a record-breaking number of dive…
Why Martin Luther King’s "I Have a Dream" Speech Is One of the Greatest 20th Century American Oratorical Gems
An understanding of how Dr. King achieved his oratorical success may well help you better serve your clients.
A Long Judicial Winter
Our stones of hope may need to sustain us until this current judicial winter once again turns to spring, maybe in a generation or two, if we can somehow keep our democracy intact.
In (Modest) Praise of Juries
Juries are intimately involved in doing justice, and while there is still substantial work to be done, we should not ignore that they can be pretty darn good at it much of the time.
Dealing with a Biased Judge
Rule 8.3(b) requires lawyers to report a judge who has committed a violation of the judicial canons when that violation raises a substantial question about the judge’s fitness for office.
Headnotes
Intersections and Intersectionality
For Black women litigators, race and gender are not mutually exclusive; rather, they are intimately intertwined. The specific individual attributes combine to create remarkably challenging, but ultim…
Rap on Trial
Prosecutors often introduce a defendant’s rap songs or videos as if the lyrics were autobiographical confessions of criminal conduct.