MARSHALL: A Screening & Reception

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Presented by The University of San Diego School of Law and the Black Law Students Association

Years before Thurgood Marshall persuaded the United States Supreme Court to outlaw school segregation, years before he became a member of the Supreme Court himself, he founded the NAACP's Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

MARSHALL follows the young lawyer (Chadwick Boseman) to conservative Connecticut to defend a black chauffeur (Sterling K. Brown) charged with sexual assault and attempted murder of his white socialite employer (Kate Hudson). Muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall partners with a courageous young Jewish lawyer, Samuel Friedman (Josh Gad). Together they mount the defense in an environment of racism and Anti-Semitism. The high profile case and the partnership with Friedman served as a template for Marshall's creation of the NAACP legal defense fund.

Following the screening, Michael Koskoff, the co-writer of MARSHALL, will moderate a panel discussion and Q&A.

5:30 p.m. Registration Opens

6:00 p.m. Welcome and Screening (movie will start at 6:05pm)

8:00 p.m. Panel discussion and Q&A

8:45 p.m. Reception with food and cash bar (ID required)

9:45 p.m. Event ends

Parking validation will be provided upon receipt of reservation confirmation.

Panel

Roy L. Brooks, Warren Distinguished Professor of Law at USD and author of numerous books, including Racial Injustice in the Age of Obama and Structures of Judicial Decision Making, The Racial Glass Ceiling: Subordination in American Law and Culture (Yale University Press, 2017). In this work, Brooks explores socio-legal, socio-cultural, and socioeconomic conditions confronted by African Americans today, and offers solutions that draw upon distinctively American virtues.

Del Dickson, PhD, JD, Professor, Political Science and International Relations, Del Dickson has taught in the department of Political Science and International Relations since 1987. He is a former department chair and has served for 29 years as the undergraduate pre-law advisor. His research focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court, justice in common law countries, lay justice, and the relationship between law and democracy

Michael Koskoff, the co-writer of the screenplay for MARSHALL is a trial lawyer, widely known for his courtroom litigation experience. At the beginning of his legal career, Michael and his father, Ted Koskoff, defended the Black Panthers in an historic New Haven trial. Presently, Michael is a principal at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder – a nationally known Connecticut law firm that concentrates in representing people who experience serious personal injuries, sexual abuse, and civil rights. He has received numerous awards for his legal, educational and civic work, including the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the Greater Bridgeport NAACP Waverly Jones Freedom Award, and the National Association of Black Patrolmen Dedicated Service Award. In addition to his legal training, Michael received formal training as an actor from the American Shakespeare Academy. Michael wrote the screenplay for MARSHALL with his son, Jacob. It is based upon the true story of a celebrated trial that was held in Bridgeport in 1941.

Jonathan Sanger, the co-producer of MARSHALL, has produced over fifty films, shorts and documentaries, including the 1982 film Frances, a biography starring Jessica Lange, Kim Stanley and Sam Shepherd. Sanger joined Cruise/Wagner Productions (Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner's production company) in 1996. He executive produced Without Limits, Suspect Zero and Vanilla Sky as well as supervising production on Mission Impossible 2 as well as all the Cruise/Wagner Productions over his six years with that company. The Elephant Man was Sanger's debut feature film producing credit. It received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and was awarded the BAFTA Award for Best Film in 1980 and the French César Award for Best Foreign Film. Other films produced by Sanger include Flight of the Navigator for Walt Disney Productions, The Doctor and the Devils for Twentieth Century Fox, The Producers, 100 Feet, and Paraíso Travel.