Lawyers for justice at times confront injustice from judges. Throughout American history, powerful entities–public and private–have on occasion directed their efforts toward disabling the lawyers who represent people adverse to their interests. Notable examples include threats by the presiding judge to disbar the attorney who in 1735 defended John Peter Zenger, the 1827 contempt conviction and disbarment of the attorney who criticized Judge James Peck, contempt charges brought against the attorneys who represented the “Chicago Seven”, and the RICO suit and related contempt proceedings brought by Chevron against Steven Donziger related to his winning a judgment against the oil company in Ecuador. Other tactics used to disable opposing counsel include suing the lawyer directly in a SLAPP suit, or forcing recusal based on conflict of interest between attorney and client.
Participants in this seminar will study these tactics as a means of raising awareness about them and becoming better prepared to counter them.
With Anthony Cascione
For more information visit the Harvard Law School Course Catalog.