LEWIS & CLARK CHAPTER: National Lawyers Guild

Welcome to the homepage of the Lewis & Clark Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members--lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers united in chapters and committees--the Guild works locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people.

The Lewis & Clark Chapter meets periodically throughout the school year and, under a decentralized structure, works on a variety of projects to effectively promote our collective agenda. Enjoy our website and feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.

Upcoming and Ongoing Events:

Legal Observing: Please contact shannonw at lclark dot edu for legal observing opportunities.

Military Counseling Project: Please visit our website or contact margod at lclark dot edu for more information.

Attorney/Student Mentor Program: Based on area of interest, students have been matched with Portland Guild attorneys. On October 21 the program's kick ass kick off was held at Tryon Life Community Farm, where students made yummy pizzas with their mentors in the cob oven. If you are mentor-less or mentee-less, send an email to nlg at lclark dot edu and hopefully we can match you up!

Past Events (2007-08 Academic Year):

Portland Attorney Mark Kramer Speaks for Student Day Against the Death Penalty

See Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty for more information: http://www.oadp. org

Saba Ahmed Speaks About Delegation to Pakistan

On February 11, 2L Saba Ahmed spoke about her recent trip to Pakistan, as part of a National Lawyers Guild delegation.

For more on the delegation and their findings, visit: http://nlg.org/pakistan/

"The Forest for the Trees" A Documentary by Bernadine Mellis

The Guild hosted a screening of Bernadine Mellis's "The Forest for the Trees" on Saturday, January 26 at the Hollywood Theater in NE Portland. Following the film, Ben Rosenfeld, attorney on the Bari legal team, spoke about his experience and took questions from the audience.

THE FOREST FOR THE TREES is an intimate, behind-the scenes look at an unlikely team of young activists and old lefties who come together to battle the U.S. government. Filmmaker Bernadine Mellis is the daughter of civil rights lawyer Dennis Cunningham, who started out his career representing the Black Panthers. Judi Bari was an environmental leader who was one of the first to place as much importance on the legacy and future of the trees as she did on timber workers' lives and families. But that strategic relationship was too much of a threat. Judi's car was bombed in 1990, and three hours later, she was arrested as a terrorist- charges that were later dropped. Convinced it was a ploy by the FBI to discredit her and the grassroots environmental movement, Judi decided to sue. Lawyer Dennis Cunningham took on Judi's case and after 12 years, and Judi Bari v. FBI finally got a court date. Knowing this is one of her father's most important cases, Mellis is there at strategy meetings, at breakfast, driving to and from the court, documenting her morally driven, very tired dad. Not your typical "Take your daughter to work day," THE FOREST FOR THE TREES offers access to a piece of U.S. history that everyday grows increasingly resonant.

Radical Lawyer Speaker Series. During October and November, the Chapter hosted local Guild attorneys to speak about the cases they work on, their experience as activists, and their advice for law students.

Political Prisoner Peter Young Speaks. “With one night and $20 in gas, we saved the lives of thousands of animals. Those are the results you don’t get writing letters.” On October 4, Animal Rights activist and political prisoner Peter Young spoke on campus about civil disobedience in light of the greenscare.

Student Day of Outrage in Solidarity with the Jena Six:

The L&C Chapter participated in a day of solidarity with the Jena Six on September 20.

For more information visit Jena Six Support.

Opt-Out Campaign: Throughout the month of September, the Chapter worked to encourage high school students to opt-out of the military holding and using their personal information for recruitment. Visit the Recruiter Watch PDX website for more info, or contact nlg at lclark dot edu for reports.

Past Events (2006-07 Academic Year):

March 7, 2007 - Speaker Lynne Stewart

Lynne Stewart is a former civil rights lawyer, who was sentenced to 28 months in prison for disseminating a message from her jailed client Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman. In March she was hosted by the Lewis & Clark NLG and spoke on campus about her experience, both prior to and through her trial. Captivating the students, Stewart recalled the torturous conditions under which her client was living, the day she was arrested, the day of her sentencing, and the pivotal effect that letters to the judge from her supporters had on her case. Stewart's case is currently pending appeal and, free on bail in the interim, she continues to speak around the country to educate and motivate those who hear her.

More information about Lynne Stewart:

Listen to the podcast or visit her website.

March 1, 2007 - Student Day Against the Death Penalty

What will you do for the abolition movement this year? On March 1, 2007 National Lawyers Guild student chapters across the country collectively raised our voices to mark NLG Law Student Day Against the Death Penalty (SDADP). The Lewis & Clark Chapter of the National Lawyers' Guild hosted Matthew Rubenstein, a Federal Public Defender and Oregon's new Capital Resource Counsel. Mr. Rubenstein described how the State of Oregon is expending enormous resources prosecuting death cases in a capital system that is hopelessly flawed and broken. (Check back for the podcast!).

November 20, 2006 - Warrantless Surveillance Case

Steve Goldberg and Ashlee Albies, co-counsel in a major lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal government's warrantless domestic electronic surveillance program, spoke and answered questions about the controversial program and this case. Goldberg and Albies represent plaintiffs in Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation v. George W. Bush, which is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. The plaintiffs allege that their domestic communications were intercepted by the National Security Agency without a warrant, and that this violated their constitutional rights. The case is widely regarded as the most important legal challenge to the NSA program in the nation because, unlike most similar cases, the plaintiffs here appear to be able to establish standing. Goldberg and Albies spoke about the case's bizarre facts and their own legal strategies.

Check out the podcast!