April 24, 2006
Prominent Defense Attorney Mike Tigar Speaks at TJSL
It’s not surprising that his toughest two competitors on a recent ballot for the esteemed title of “Lawyer of the Century” were Clarence Darrow and Thurgood Marshall. Fortunately for the legal community and the world in general, Professor Mike Tigar of Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, D.C., and one of the country’s most notable defense attorneys is very much alive and kicking, as he visited Thomas Jefferson School of Law on
April 21.
The charismatic Professor Mike Tigar addresses the audience.
Professor Tigar gave a special lecture at TJSL titled “Looking Forward to Doing Justice as a Lawyer: If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, How Will You Know When You Get There?” The afternoon talk was open to all San Diego area law students, faculty and staff. Professor Tigar also spoke later in the evening as the keynote speaker at the Annual Defender Dinner, a private event downtown.
Currently a Research Professor of Law at Washington College of Law, Professor Tigar also has taught at UCLA and the University of Texas, and has lectured at law schools and associations outside of the United States, including in Europe, Africa and Latin America. Each year, he teaches at the faculty of law in Aix-en-Provence.
Some of his prominent clients have included Angela Davis, John Connally, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the Washington Post, Fantasy Films, Terry Nichols, Allen Ginsberg and Lynne Stewart. Mr. Tigar also elaborated during his talk on the acquittal of his client Fernando Chavez, who refused to be drafted. Fernando is the son of Civil Rights Leader Cesar Chavez. He has written or co-authored ten books and three plays on legal subjects, his latest book a memoir titled Fighting Injustice. He has argued seven cases in the United States Supreme Court and almost 100 federal appeals.
Prof. Tigar answers questions from the audience. He advises law students to know one's community first, then one's client.
His list of accomplishments doesn’t end there. Professor Tigar has held esteemed positions such as Chair of the 60,000-member Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Resource Center for Capital Litigation.
He worked with several African lawyers’ organizations to end apartheid in South Africa and, after the release of Nelson Mandela, Professor Tigar also helped to advise the African National Congress on particular issues in drafting a new South African constitution. He has been actively involved in efforts to bring to justice members of the Chilean junta, including former President Pinochet.
Professor Tigar with Professor Julie Greenberg and Dean Hasl.
Justice William J. Brennan once wrote that Professor Tigar’s “tireless striving for justice stretches his arms towards perfection.” That is high praise, indeed, but Professor Tigar’s dedication to fighting injustice has been recognized in other ways, as well. He has received the John Minor Wisdom Public Service Award and the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award. In 2003, the Texas Civil Rights Project named its new building, the “Michael Tigar Human Rights Center.” More on Professor Tigar’s accomplishments can be found at www.wcl.amerian.edu/faculty/tigar.