"Demand the Impossible: One Man's Pursuit of Equal Justice for All"

Featuring Professor Robert L. Tsai

Approved for 1.5 Nevada MCLE credits

In Person & Virtual Options (Registration Required)

The in-person event will take place on the UNLV campus in the Boyd School of Law (BSL) Building - Room #110
Virtual Registration: https://unlv.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_odB_8GwMQUmWBuyRDkD4MQ

Lecture Description

William S. Boyd School of Law and Professor Robert Tsai (BU Law) will discuss his new book, Demand the Impossible: One Lawyer's Pursuit of Equal Justice for All, which chronicles attorney Stephen Bright's remarkable career to explore the legal ideas that were central to his relentless pursuit of equal justice in America, particularly for low-income people prosecuted for crimes carrying sentences of death or life in prison. For nearly forty years, Bright led the Southern Center for Human Rights, a nonprofit that provided legal aid to incarcerated people and worked to improve conditions within the justice system. He argued four capital cases before the US Supreme Court—and won each one, despite facing an increasingly hostile bench. With each victory, he brought to light how the law itself had become corrupted by the country’s thirst for severe punishment, exposing prosecutorial misconduct, continuing racial inequality, inadequate safeguards for people with intellectual disabilities, and the shameful quality of legal representation for the poor.

Following Professor Tsai's presentation, a panel of local public defense practitioners will lead a discussion of the book, and how Bright's litigation legacy can impact the struggle for equal justice for low-income Nevadans charged with crimes.

Panelists Include:

Death Penalty Attorney Randy Fiedler (No Path Forward)
Clark County Public Defender Nancy Lemcke
State Senator Melanie ScheibleA book
Leslie Turner, Co-Founder of Mass Liberation Nevada

"Demand the Impossible" book available for purchase. A book signing will follow.

Demand the Impossible: One Man's Pursuit of Equal Justice for All - CLE