Civil War Courtroom Drama Topic of March 27 Presentation
Villanova Law alumnus Arthur T. Downey ’62, author of The Civil War Lawyers: Constitutional Questions, Courtroom Dramas, and the Men Behind Them, will speak about the courtroom debates and judicial decisions of the Civil War period on Tuesday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. in Room 201 at the Law School. A reception will follow in the Goldberg Commons.
Published by the American Bar Association, Mr. Downey’s book is a comprehensive review of the under-appreciated role of lawyers and the law during the American Civil War. The result of many years of research, the book explores significant legal issues arising during the period leading up to and through the Civil War. Great Constitutional issues were addressed by the Supreme Court during that time, and presidents struggled with the legality of their actions, including questions on issues that still have relevance today. In addition to providing insight into those decisions, Mr. Downey also brings to life the lawyers who argued the cases and represented the positions taken during the War Between the States. The book includes an appendix of over 100 biographies of the lawyers of the time, a look at the cases in which the lawyers crossed paths before the War and a timeline of Civil War events.
Mr. Downey’s legal career spans both the public and private sectors. A former partner at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, he also served as Vice President for Government Affairs in the Washington office of Baker Hughes. His public service includes several years as a member of Henry Kissinger’s National Security Council Staff, and he served as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for East-West Trade. Mr. Downey has taught as an adjunct professor of international law at Georgetown University Law Center for a dozen years.
One CLE credit (substantive) will be awarded for this lecture. No pre-registration is required.
