Important Trials in American History: The Life and Times of Clarence Darrow
Schedule: Wednesdays, October 14, 28, November 4 and 11, 2009; 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Location: Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, Redmond (see maps)
Reg. # 105244

Course Description
Clarence Darrow had a remarkable career. First, he was a prominent labor law lawyer (often representing terrorists and anarchists) until 1912. In 1912, he was accused and tried for jury tampering. He not only lost all his clients and contacts, he was also so depressed he contemplated suicide. Second, by the early 1920s, he was once again a legendary celebrity lawyer. In both careers, he tried several "Cases of the Century." We will study Clarence Darrow by examining what he said and what he said he did. We will then examine many of his important trials in historical context. This will allow us to critically test Darrow's own explanations for events. Equally important, these cases will illuminate important themes and issues in American history. This is not a law course. Rather, it is a social history course that examines, in the first instance, important American trials in their full historical context. The course will use extensive excerpts from plays, movies, TV shows and music.
Part I (to be taught in the Autumn 2009) examines trials from 1885-1912. Part II (to be taught in the Winter 2010) studies cases from 1924 to 1932. Participants may take one or both courses.

Instructor

Steve Kalish
Kalish taught at the College of Law, University of Nebraska, for 34 years. His principal interests were American Legal History, the history of American lawyering and professional ethics. He was the director of the University's Center on the Teaching and Study of Applied Ethics.