USD Magazine, Winter 2000

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By Susan Herold

'Tm thrilled with the film in the sense that it shows what a remarkable person Rubin Carter is," says Sarokin, who spends part of che week in a spartan third-floor law school office, quite a stretch from the years he spent as a district court judge in New Jersey, and lacer as judge for the U.S. Third Circuit. "But the film also shows the best and worst of the judicial system. Ir's a won– derful thing for law students to see."

n the same date each November, Judge H . Lee Sarokin's phone rings. On the line is a voice familiar as an old, comfortable shirt. The words the same as those uttered each of the past 14 years. "Thank you, judge, for giving me my life back."

The caller is Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a one-rime top contender for the middleweight boxing crown who spent 19 years in prison for three murders he didn't commit. After two trials and even more failed appeals, it was Sarokin, at the time a U.S. District Court judge, who saw the truth. Against the objection of state prosecutors and some of his col– leagues, Sarokin signed the rarely used writ of habeas corpus - which allows federal judges to overturn scare convictions - to set Carter free. "Ir's been 14 years since Judge Sarokin penned his big, bold signature on my writ of habeas corpus," says Carter, whose life is portrayed by actor Denzel Washington in the recent release "The Hurricane," touted as a top Oscar contender. "I can still scarcely believe it." Now retired from the bench, Sarokin is chis year's USD Distinguished Jurist in Residence for the School of Law, where he guest lectures and meets with students and faculty. He convinced director Norman Jewison to allow him to screen the film in December for law students and faculty, and asked Career to attend and speak of his experience.

Judge H. Lee Sarokin, who freed Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, will preside over an actual trial in the USD School of Law in February. The judge arranged for the affirmative action case to be heard on campus to give law stu– dents first-hand exposure to the trial process.