Law in Popular Culture

Story about overworked public defender is winner of ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest

A federal law clerk in Wilmington, North Carolina, has won the 2018 ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction for her story about an overworked federal public defender who represents a man on a drug charge that could get him 10 to 40 years in prison. Lisa Taylor is…

Aug 3, 2018 12:08 PM CDT

10 Questions: A true Marvel, this Brooklyn lawyer is a force across a galaxy of comic book genres

A young corporate lawyer sits at his computer, putting the finishing touches on an email. clickkkkk! He hits send. swooooosh! His first comic book manuscript is off to the publisher. Can our hero create a successful career in comics? Will he be able to balance his parallel professions? Can he…

Aug 1, 2018 2:50 AM CDT

Contemporary legal films shift away from lawyers as righteous heroes

Hollywood, for instance, has always had a crush on crusading lawyers. But tropes that once dominated legal dramas have given way to an entirely new twist on the genre. Cinema has developed a newfound cynicism about the once-righteous trial attorney. Nowadays, perhaps consistent with our diminished faith in public institutions, the legal system and its practitioners, as depicted in movies, have been found wanting and guilty

Aug 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

25 more great movies: Honorable mentions

Our panel had its work cut out to name the 25 greatest legal movies. But why stop there? Here are 25 more screenworthy choices.

Aug 1, 2018 12:20 AM CDT

The 25 greatest legal movies

A panel of law practitioners recommends their favorite legal-themed films, including those released in the decade since our last top-25 list. The judges voted for many of the classics from our 2008 list, along with some newer films we hope will get you thinking about the reach of the law in new ways.

Aug 1, 2018 12:09 AM CDT

Dr. Phil takes on child sex abuse allegations by playing participant, advocate, and judge

Criminal allegations normally involve three classes of characters: the participants, the advocates, and the judges. In the Dr. Phil episode I watched, to my surprise, Phil McGraw did an admirable job of maneuvering through all three categories.

Jul 23, 2018 7:10 AM CDT

Criminal injustice: How Netflix’s ‘The Staircase’ illustrates the inequities of our justice system

I’m fascinated with the fascination over the true-crime genre. It allows audiences to see the unfairness of a system which, too often, keeps its secrets in the shadows.

Jul 9, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

Short film dramatizes difficulties of children representing themselves in immigration court

The Department of Justice does not permit cameras or other recording devices inside immigration courtrooms.

Jul 9, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

How could someone confess to a crime they didn’t commit? Watch ‘The Confession Tapes’ and see

Every defense attorney has heard it more than once: “I was coerced!”

Jun 20, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Civil rights lawyer Crump hosts television series on wrongful convictions

Civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump is hosting a TV series airing this month that chronicles the cases of four people exonerated after spending at least a decade in prison. The series, Evidence of Innocence, airs Mondays in June on TV One, report the National Law Journal and the Tallahassee Democrat.…

Jun 13, 2018 3:38 PM CDT

‘Marcia Clark Investigates’ offers entertainment, but not impact

One of the things I love the most about being an attorney is that moment when a stranger or new acquaintance finds out about my occupation. When someone learns that I am a practicing attorney, the next question is always “What type of law do you practice?”

Jun 6, 2018 7:10 AM CDT

Does Roseanne Barr have a valid legal claim for cancellation of her show?

The First Amendment restricts the government from interfering with free speech rights, but it doesn’t cover job-related consequences for private employees--or even star comedians.

May 31, 2018 11:22 AM CDT

ABA announces winners of the 2018 Silver Gavel Awards

The ABA announced winners of the 2018 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts, which recognize outstanding efforts to foster the public’s understanding of law through media. From 19 finalists, the Standing Committee on Gavel Awards selected six pieces of media for Silver Gavels with four others receiving honorable…

May 23, 2018 11:00 AM CDT

‘Westworld’ story lines connect with real-world legal issues

A fictional theme park with a wild west theme is the setting for the HBO series Westworld, where guests pay to live out their fantasies. Those familiar with the darker side of the human condition won’t be surprised to learn that these fantasies often entail patrons killing as many of the amusement park hosts as they please.

May 21, 2018 7:10 AM CDT

It’s time to enter the ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction

It's time to get creative. Entries are being accepted for the 2018 ABA Journal/Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction through 5 p.m. CDT on Friday, June 1.

May 16, 2018 12:55 PM CDT