Guthrie Theater

On October 16, 2012, playwright Christopher Hampton will bring his unique experience and insight to a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) class for attorneys.

The Continuing Struggle for Racial Equality Under the American Justice System
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
2 - 4 p.m.
Wurtele Thrust Stage
Guthrie Theater
2.0 Elimination of Bias credits
Fee: $200

Race continues to play an enormous role in the national perception and discussion of justice nearly 150 years after the Civil War and more than 50 years since the Civil Rights Movement. Will the American judicial system ever be able to fairly administer justice? This course explores the role of racial bias in the practice of law and administration of justice in our legal system.

A panel-facilitated discussion is led off by live performances of selected scenes from Christopher Hampton's play Appomattox as a departure point for an exploration of race in the judicial system.  Along with scenes from the play, Guthrie actors will present live readings of actual cases and accounts of individuals struggling for equal justice regardless of the color of their skin.

Registration will begin July 15. Please call Louise Chalfant at 612.225.6133 if you have any questions about this upcoming CLE event.

About Appomattox by Christopher Hampton
In its first half, Appomattox deals with the final week of the Civil War and the immediate aftermath of the treaty that ended it in 1865. In the second act, it confronts the fact that 100 years later during the Civil Rights era the root cause of the Civil War -- racial suppression of African Americans -- was still a primary issue that divided the American soul. The play is developed from a libretto written for an opera by Phillip Glass, first presented at the San Francisco Opera House in 2007.