Symposium to address race, racism and the law

The Journal of Law in Society at Wayne State University Law School will present its 2016 symposium, “A Tribute to Professor Emeritus Edward J. Littlejohn and His Work with Race, Racism and the Law,” on Friday, March 11.

The symposium, scheduled  from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will pay tribute to Littlejohn’s scholarship, work in the city of Detroit and time on the law school faculty.

Littlejohn is one of the leading experts on African-American legal history, played an instrumental role in the implementation of the Detroit Police Commission and served on the law school faculty during tumultuous times in the 1970s.

Opening remarks will be provided by Rachel Myung, journal editor-in-chief; Professor Peter J. Hammer, director of Wayne Law’s Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights; and Judge Damon J. Keith, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and earned his master of laws degree from Wayne Law in 1956.

Littlejohn will deliver the keynote address.

Panel discussion topics and panelists will be:

• “The Past, Present, and Future of Michigan’s Black Lawyers and Judges” with Hon. Dennis Archer, chairman emeritus of Dickinson Wright PLLC; Hon. Dalton Roberson, retired Wayne County Circuit Court judge; Hon. Denise Page Hood, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan; and moderator Blanche Cook, Wayne Law assistant professor.

• “The Struggle for Racial Diversity in Legal Education” with Carl Edwards, Wayne Law class of 1974, partner with Edwards & Jennings PC; Ericka Jackson, class of 1997, Wayne Law assistant dean of admissions and student affairs; Michael Steinberg, class of 1989, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan; and moderator Robert Sedler, Wayne Law distinguished professor.

• “Citizens’ Efforts to Hold Police Accountable for Misconduct” with Julie Hurwitz, partner with Goodman & Hurwitz PC; Barbara McQuade, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan; Yusef “Bunchy” Shakur, owner of Urban Network; and moderator Eric Williams, Wayne Law assistant (clinical) professor.

Hammer, Wayne Law Dean Jocelyn Benson and symposium Director Sean Riddell will deliver closing remarks.

The event, which includes continental breakfast and lunch, will be held in the Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium at the law school, 471 W. Palmer St.

The symposium is free, but registration is required by Thursday, March 3, and can be completed online at law.wayne.edu/journal2016.

Parking will be available for $7 (credit or debit cards only) in Parking Structure No. 1 across West Palmer Street from Wayne Law.

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