CBA Record

Police and Citizens’ Rights to Information Thursday, March 19, 12:00-2:10 pm

SUMMARY JUDGMENTS

REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS!

MCLE Credit: 2 IL MCLE Credit

When Lincoln Speaks

Location:The Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604

fessor, takes a different approach in the Lincoln biography genre. He provides some historical context and background on Lincoln’s early years, but focuses on Lincoln’s speeches and the cases he argued during his long legal career. Lincoln was one of our country’s only lawyer-presidents who practiced law up until his inaugura- tion. (Incidentally, he kept his firm with WilliamHerndon in place so that he could return to it.) This book can best be characterized as a cross between a biography and the popular genre known to some as “Leadership Les- sons from [Insert Great Leader Here].” It is entertaining and informative. After discussing a segment of Lincoln’s legal or political career, the book then provides “Lessons Learned,” a list of behaviors and practices that the reader can emulate to better his own practice. The best part of the book may be when Rizer addresses Lincoln’s various partnerships and legal jobs. Much of this information has not been addressed in significant detail in other biographies, because they focus on his presidency. Rizer asserts that Lincoln’s interests in law stemmed from his interest in politics. That may be true, but the author does not make those arguments definitively. And he occasionally mentions that Lincoln gave up on politics at various times because of a defeat in a race or for other reasons. The author admires Lincoln, and of course there is much to admire. Lincoln’s honesty, his preparation for trial, and his use of humor and stories served him well and are attributes from which lawyers could learn to improve their own reputa- tions and behaviors. He also was a gifted orator and storyteller whose height gave him additional presence.

Presented by: YLS Civil Rights Committee

The book includes an appendix of a number of Lincoln’s great speeches. These should be required reading in civics les- sons. However, the appendix lacks any of Lincoln’s complete closing arguments, although there are some small portions of courtroom exchanges in a few cases. Although Rizer notes that many of Lin- coln’s cases were simple and his closings short, it would be interesting to see Lincoln’s gift with words displayed in his courtroom presence. Rizer has done a good job of gleaning some “Lessons Learned” from Lincoln’s biography and work. Young lawyers espe- cially can learn a thing or two about how to conduct themselves in the legal arena. The book is a quick read and offers an enjoyable way to learn some unknown facts about our 16th President, who also is remembered as one of Illinois’ greatest attorneys. Speakers: MatthewTopic, Loevy & Loevy; Jamie Kalven, Journalist and Human Rights Activist, The Invisible Institute; and LindsayMiller, Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU, Inc. The goals of the seminar are to provide young lawyers engaged in the practice of civil rights litigation with information about an important discovery tool–FOIA requests. Discussion will center around a broad policy goal, increasing transparency in government, and work that citizens and attorneys are doing to achieve that goal. Two other information-gathering tools, eavesdropping and police body cameras, will also be covered.

Lincoln’s Counsel: Lessons From America’s Most Persuasive Speaker By Arthur L. Rider ABA Publishing, 2010

Reviewed by Daniel A. Cotter M ore books have been published about Abraham Lincoln than almost any other person in our nation’s history. In Washington D.C., one can visit the site where he died and find an exhibit of every known book published about him–a three-story, growing spiral that contains hundreds of books on the man. In yet another book, Lincoln’s Counsel: Lessons From America’s Most Persuasive Speaker, Arthur Rizer, a lawyer and pro- Daniel A. Cotter is Vice Presi- dent, General & Secretary at Fidelity Life Association, and a member of the CBA Record Editorial Board.

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