6th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy: Lessons for Today’s Lawyers – Democracy, The Constitution, and Lincoln the Lawyer/President
Don’t miss ISBA’s 6th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar as we study Lincoln’s actions as a lawyer and President in facing threats to democracy in America and the United States Constitution. The program takes place in Springfield, which was the center of Lincoln’s law practice and three partnerships, and where Lincoln developed his understanding of the democratic process and his interpretation of the Constitution. It was the venue for many of Lincoln’s significant trials, including the “Peachy” Quinn Harrison murder trial. Join us for this in-depth look at how Lincoln’s view of the Constitution changed over time and evolved into the use of his Presidential War Powers to advance the case of Union and emancipation.
Additional topics include: Lincoln’s representation in the high-profile “Peachy” Quinn Harrison murder trial. (Robert Hitt, a court stenographer at the time, recorded the trial and produced a trial transcript, which is now preserved at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum); the 1908 Springfield Race Riot and how its violence and aftermath showed the nation that Lincoln’s struggle for freedom and equality for all citizens was far from a reality; how the 1909 Centennial Celebration of Lincoln’s birth resulted in no minorities attending the festivities and how, at the same time in New York City, concerned citizens formed the NAACP to discuss and address racism and white supremacy in the U.S.; the current ethical issues facing attorneys, including lawyer-client privilege, confidentiality concerns, and limits on lawyers and litigants’ speech during trials; how future lawyers can research Lincoln’s legal career and cases; what current and future lawyers can learn from Lincoln’s legal legacy; and much more.
Friday, September 6, 2024
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N 6th Street, Springfield
CLE Program: 8:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Optional Walking Tour: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
6.0 hours MCLE credit, including 6.0 hours Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit (subject to approval)