Morris Dees inspires students with “Justice for All” insights

The first time Chris Jason, class of 2011, saw Morris Dees speak, he was a high school student. “It was so interesting hearing him speak the other evening and then reflecting back on the first time I saw him,” said Jason. The message of how one person can directly reverse an injustice stayed with Jason and influenced his decision to attend law school. “The whole idea of bankrupting the KKK was so novel, it showed me that one person really can make a difference. It inspired me to make a difference as well, and now I want to be a prosecutor,” he added. Next semester, Jason will head to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague in the Netherlands as an extern in the law school's International Criminal Law program.

Kenny Donnelly, class of 2010, also vividly remembers the first time he saw Dees speak. “He had such an impact on the audience that I felt it was really important to bring him here.” Donnelly rallied a number of organizations to co-sponsor the event which was held on March 16.

Dees, a civil rights attorney who co-founded the Southern Poverty Law Center, shared a wide range of examples of justice against tyranny—from biblical times to present day. But his story of suing the Ku Klux Klan in civil court for the lynching of a young black man on behalf of the victim’s mother was the most compelling of the evening. He advised students that no matter where they ultimately end up practicing law—even if it is in the highest-priced law firms—not to forget that they are fighting for justice and not to “leave that on the first floor as they ride up elevator to the top floor.”

“What is so remarkable about Morris Dees is his ability to connect with everyone at a very real level; with us as law students and at the same time with members of the community. He uses different rhetorical styles and substantive information to connect with different audiences, but throughout tells a single story of doing his part to bring justice to individuals and the society at large,” said Jason. As Jason moves forward on his path to become a prosecutor, he would like to better understand how role models, like Dees, sustain such a strong level of commitment to change on a daily basis.

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