All-Alumni Reunion > Programs >
Soul of Justice: Thelton Henderson's American Journey
Saturday, September 30
4:30 - 5:45 pm
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Listen to the Q & A session (13 min, 15.3 mb) |
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| Don't miss this private screening of Soul of Justice, the award-winning documentary about Judge Thelton Henderson '62, from his days as the first African-American attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in the early 60s to his remarkable quarter-century service on the federal bench. Judge Henderson and director Abby Ginzberg will be available for commentary and questions. |
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Thelton E. Henderson '62 is chief judge emeritus of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where he served since his appointment by President Jimmy Carter in 1980. He retired in 1997. His work has been shaped by his dedication to justice, civil liberties, humanitarianism and his commitment to the law.
He began his career in 1962 as the first black lawyer in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, under Robert Kennedy's leadership as U.S. Attorney General. In that position, Thelton worked alongside Andrew Young and Martin Luther King, Jr. He returned to the Bay Area in 1964 and devoted the ensuing years to public interest work, academia and private practice specializing in civil liberties and discrimination cases.
As a federal judge, Thelton's contributions to the causes of equality and civil rights have been an inspiration to all who work for social justice in this country. In recent years, he has taken courageous stands in support of prisoner rights and against the constitutionality of Proposition 209, the amendment to California's constitution which eliminated race- and gender-based affirmative action in public employment, education and contracting.
In 2000, Thelton received Boalt's Citation Award, the law school's highest tribute. Boalt also recognized the judge's contributions to racial equality and justice with the naming of the Honorable Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice in 2006.
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Abby Ginzberg produces and directs award-winning documentary films focusing on character-driven stories, racial and gender discrimination and social justice issues. Her work has been shown in film/video festivals and broadcast on public television networks nationally and internationally. Abby's film, Soul of Justice: Thelton Henderson's American Journey , was featured at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October 2005 and at the Pan African Film Festival in February 2006. Her other recent films include A Tale of Two Cities (2005), which won a CINE Golden Eagle award, and Opportunity of a Lifetime (2005). Both films were featured on KQED in October 2005.
Abby has produced numerous award-winning films documenting the successes of programs for at-risk and underserved youth that deserve, but rarely get, public attention. Profiling another unsung hero of the legal profession, she produced and directed Doing Justice: The Life and Trials of Arthur Kinoy, a film portraying civil rights lawyer Kinoy's landmark cases beginning with the Rosenbergs and continuing through Watergate. The film has become a staple in law schools, helping to inspire the next generation of “people's lawyers.”
Abby's interest in justice and her efforts to shine a spotlight on important legal themes stems from her early career as an attorney. A graduate of Hastings, she practiced criminal and juvenile law for 10 years before switching careers. She also taught Torts at New College School of Law for five years. Since 1983, Abby has produced over 30 films, capturing the stories of trailblazing women and minority judges, and has made more than 10 films about discrimination in the legal profession.
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