Agenda

1. Judgment at Nuremberg (1961): Ethics, Professionalism, and the Rule of Law

   
   Following World War II, Allied prosecutors tried German judges accused of enforcing Nazi policies through the judicial system. The case examines judicial independence, criminal responsibility, and the ethical obligations of lawyers and judges when confronted with unjust laws.
   

   1. Ethics and Professionalism in the Administration of Unjust Laws: Independence of Counsel and the Court, Integrity, Diligence, Candor, Confidentiality, and Objectivity
   2. Giving Due Process to War Criminals
   3. How the Unethical Application of Law Can Undermine the Rule of Law
   4. The Ethics of Using Legal Institutions to Punish Political Adversaries
   5. Institutional Complicity and the Implications of “Looking the Other Way”
   6. ABA Model Rule 1.2 and Assisting Criminal or Fraudulent Conduct
   7. Ethical Limits on Refusing to Enforce or Participate in Immoral Laws: Confidentiality, Loyalty, and Conflicts of Interest
   8. What Should a Lawyer Do When Law and Conscience Collide?

2. Amistad (1997): Advocacy, Professionalism, and the Lawyer’s Duty to the Legal System

   
   The Supreme Court battle arising from the 1839 Amistad revolt raised profound questions regarding slavery, international law, treaty obligations, and the legal status of individuals transported as property.
   

   1. Slavery, International Law, Treaty Obligations, and the Legal Status of Persons Treated as Property
   2. The Lawyer's Professional Duty to the Legal System and the Public
   3. Pro Bono Representation and Advocacy on Behalf of Unpopular or Vulnerable Clients
   4. John Quincy Adams as Advocate: Professional and Ethical Ideals in Action
   5. Using Public Attention to Advance a Client's Cause and Broader Legal Reform
   6. ABA Model Rules 3.6 and 3.1: Trial Publicity and Meritorious Claims
   7. The Case's Broader Impact on the National Debate Over Slavery and Legal Reform

3. The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020): Constitutional Rights and Advocacy in a Controversial Trial

   
   Following the protests surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention, seven defendants faced federal conspiracy charges in one of America's most controversial criminal trials.
   

   1. First Amendment Protections in Criminal Prosecutions
   2. Criminal Conspiracy
   3. Judicial Conduct and Courtroom Management
   4. Jury Management
   5. Trial Advocacy in Politically Charged Prosecutions
   6. Strategies for Representing Controversial Clients

4. Just Mercy (2019): Wrongful Convictions, Disclosure Duties, and Post-Conviction Advocacy

   
   Based on Bryan Stevenson's representation of Walter McMillian, this case illustrates wrongful convictions, prosecutorial misconduct, investigative failures, and post-conviction advocacy.
   

   1. Wrongful Convictions
   2. Brady Obligations and Disclosure Duties
   3. Eyewitness Reliability and Investigative Failures
   4. Post-Conviction Relief
   5. Death Penalty Litigation
   6. Effective Strategies for Post-Conviction Advocacy

5. Erin Brockovich (2000): Building and Resolving Complex Civil Cases

   
   The litigation against Pacific Gas & Electric demonstrates the complexities of environmental contamination litigation, expert testimony, and mass tort practice.
   

   1. Environmental Tort Litigation, Class Actions, and Mass Tort Practice
   2. Expert Witnesses and the Effective Presentation of Scientific Evidence
   3. Client Communication and Case Development
   4. Settlement Strategy

6. The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996): Defamation, Free Speech, and the First Amendment

   
   Larry Flynt's obscenity prosecutions and landmark First Amendment litigation raised significant constitutional questions involving free speech and freedom of the press.
   

   1. The Evolution of Modern Defamation Law: New York Times v. Sullivan, Curtis Publishing Co. v. Butts, Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., and Time, Inc. v. Hill
   2. Hustler Magazine v. Falwell: Facts, Claims, and Trial Strategy
   3. Supreme Court Case
   4. Current Defamation Cases: Sandmann v. CNN, Palin v. The New York Times, and Depp v. Heard
   5. Practical Advocacy Lessons