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Martin Luther King Jr. Day: a Different Perspective on Past, Present, and Future the ‘Legacy’ of MLK Jr

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day: a Different Perspective on Past, Present, and Future the ‘Legacy’ of MLK Jr ILLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION JANUARY 2021 VOL 7 NO. 3 Law Related Education The newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Committee on Law Related Education 2020-2021: A Time of Terror 2020-2021: A Time of Terror and Great Challenges to the Legal Community and Beyond: Past, Present, and and Great Challenges to the Future Legal Community and Beyond: 1 Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Different Perspective on Past, Present, and Future the ‘Legacy’ of MLK Jr. From BY SHARON EISEMAN Civil Rights Attorney Vernon Jordan 1 This January issue of the ISBA’s the lawyers representing their clients and Committee on Law Related Education for the judges overseeing that litigation must the Public (‘LRE’) explores how we have continue their respective roles in presenting Altered Criminal Court coped, even prevailed, in managing the the evidence and dispersing justice for Proceedings in an phases of our personal and work-related the parties. And on the personal side, Unprecedented Era: What Is lives, especially in the courtrooms where Continued on next page New, How it Is Working, & Practices We May Keep in the Post-Pandemic World Martin Luther King Jr. Day: 5 Livestreaming Court Cases A Different Perspective 6 ISBA Launches Rural Practice Fellowship Program as on the ‘Legacy’ of MLK Jr. Component of Rural Practice Institute From Civil Rights Attorney 9 Using Social Media Wisely Vernon Jordan 10 BY SHARON EISEMAN New and Not-So-New January Holidays 2021 and THE MLK JR. HOLIDAY: LUTHER KING JR. from Civil 11 • What it has meant through the Rights attorney VERNON decades, JORDAN, and, perhaps due • A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE to lessons learned from the on the ‘LEGACY’ of MARTIN Continued on next page 1 Law Related Education ▼ JANUARY 2021 / VOL 7 / NO. 3 2020-2021: A Time of Terror and Great Challenges to the Legal Community and Beyond: Past, Present, and Future Law Related Education CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Published at least four times per year. sometimes we need a break and for that, limited access to attorneys, most of whom To subscribe, visit www.isba.org or call we offer an intriguing list of potential new practice in the more heavily populated 217-525-1760. holidays to observe each day in January urban areas. You will enjoy reading about OFFICE which might make you smile, even chuckle. this innovative Rural Practice Initiative and ILLINOIS BAR CENTER Among our articles in this issue, you its Fellowship Program. 424 S. SECOND STREET SPRINGFIELD, IL 62701 will find some terrific guidance from a law And finally, because of the occurrence PHONES: 217-525-1760 OR 800-252-8908 clerk and a law student who present helpful of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January WWW.ISBA.ORG perspectives on: (1) how to stay out of 18 in this year of 2021, we republish in our EDITORS trouble while navigating social media—a January newsletter an informative piece Sharon L. Eiseman timely topic since so many of us are using from two years ago about MLK, Jr., the PUBLICATIONS MANAGER that means of communication more often history of his struggles and his rise in the Sara Anderson now that we spend most of our daily lives public eye, and the battles he waged for [email protected] on-line and on smartphones, through texts racial justice and equality. You will learn LAW RELATED EDUCATION and Facebook and Twitter, etc.; and (2) the or be reminded as to why it is so important COMMITTEE COUNCIL specifics for lawyers re: how to present a to remember and honor him, and to do so Christine G. Zeman, Chair Sandra L. Sweeney, Vice-Chair case remotely to the court. We also share in this particular moment as we celebrate Robert O. Ackley, Secretary Stephen D. Iden, Ex-Officio with you, in a persuasive report, a new ISBA both the man and the powerful messages Hon. Michael J. Chmiel Billie J. Constant project to help bring much-needed legal he fought so hard to communicate and Sharon L. Eiseman n Hon. Rex L. Gradeless, II representation to people living in the rural implement. Hon. Justin M. Hansen areas of the State which historically has David M. House Joseph Lyons P. Lyons Raquel G. Martinez Mary Ann Midden Hon. John J. O’Gara, Jr. Melissa M. Olivero Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Different Perspective on the ‘Legacy’ of Hon. Edward J. Schoenbaum Sarah J. Taylor MLK Jr. From Civil Rights Attorney Vernon Jordan Amanda G. Highlander, Board Liaison Kimberly A. Furr, Staff Liaison CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Kelsey K. Chetosky, Associate Member Nancy G. Easum, Associate Member Hon. Pablo A. Eves, Associate Member Kathleen A. Karayannis, Associate Member Marylou L. Kent, Associate Member PANDEMIC, and (by North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms). To Kateah M. McMasters, Associate Member • AN ENHANCED APPRECIATION express his resistance that year, Helms led a Stanley N. Wasser, Associate Member of the need for RACIAL EQUALITY sixteen-day filibuster of the MLK Holiday to become THE ‘NORM’* bill but then finally voted for it in exchange for Congress’ approval of his tobacco bill. When Was the MLK, Jr. Holiday Despite this opposition, the bipartisan vote Established and Why? in favor of the bill handily won the day, First, before turning to a discussion of possibly because many Republicans may have Dr. King’s legacy and what it means, let’s believed they needed to show the public their review how a holiday in his memory was support for civil rights. established. Are you surprised to learn that And did you know or do you recall that DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for subscribers’ personal use only; redistribution is prohibited. Copyright Illinois serious controversy arose in 1983 when Dr. King died before he even reached the State Bar Association. Statements or expressions of Congress moved to create a national holiday opinion appearing herein are those of the authors and age of forty, having been assassinated in not necessarily those of the Association or Editors, and to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and likewise the publication of any advertisement is not to be Memphis, Tennessee on April 4 of 1968 when construed as an endorsement of the product or service commemorate his legacy? It did, from he was in the midst of preparing to lead a offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is southern legislators as well as from President such approval or endorsement. protest march in support of the City’s striking Articles are prepared as an educational service to members Ronald Reagan who opposed any national sanitation workers? Yet in his short lifetime, of ISBA. They should not be relied upon as a substitute for observance for Dr. King who was variously individual legal research. Dr. Martin Luther King accomplished the The articles in this newsletter are not intended to be used described as “an outside agitator” (by unimaginable, especially for a black man and may not be relied on for penalty avoidance. Senator Strom Thurmond in 1968 following from the South and one advocating for King’s assassination), and as someone who peaceful integration. Thus, this year as in “welcomed collaboration with Communists” 2 every previous year the holiday has been financial challenges but it also, perhaps champion of peace” who had distinguished observed, people all over our country—and unwittingly, simply stoked the flames of himself by showing that “a struggle can beyond—will pay homage to this great man, a significant and growing national civil be waged without violence”. Mr. Jahn also preacher, and acknowledged leader of the rights movement. That movement, which praised Dr. King for never abandoning his civil rights movement in America that has engendered many other battles for racial faith despite his having been subjected to defined for generations what our country equality, was borne of one black woman’s numerous imprisonments and bomb threats, must acknowledge and address in order to using her voice to demand equal access to as well as repeated death threats against eliminate racism in our society. public services. Ms. Parks later explained him and his family. Although detractors that she claimed her seat that fateful day, not continued to attack Dr. King’s teachings, Dr. King’s Early and Relevant because she was physically tired but because much progress had been made toward the Education she was “tired of giving in”. For more goals of equality, justice and peace that King Even before he stepped onto the national about Rosa Parks, who was lauded for her was preaching. As notable examples, in ‘stage’ and ignited a widespread movement courage, wrote two compelling memoirs, and the middle of the sixties, Little Rock High for peace, justice and racial equality through lived into her nineties, see https://www. School and the University of Mississippi his electrifying voice and powerful words biography.com/people/rosa-parks. were integrated, Congress enacted the 24th invoking hope for the dreamers in his Amendment to the U. S. Constitution, and audiences, Dr. King had achieved many Etched Forever in Our Collective President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil impressive goals. At an early age, and in Memories: Dr. King’s Compelling Rights Act of 1964. short order, Dr. King proved the belief that Words he was bright, articulate and driven by Events in the sixties related to Dr. Martin Dr. King’s Assassination: A Dark earning a B.A. in Sociology from Atlanta’s Luther King Jr. are forever etched in our Day for All, and Its Aftermath Morehouse College when he was only memories and in America’s history. On Sadly, as we all know, that decade didn’t nineteen, a B.A.
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