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Chicago, Illinois 60605
Ph: 312-913-0039
Fax: 312-913-0045
contact@nlgchicago.org
www.nlgchicago.org
"...to the end that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests."
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.
Our aims:
. to eliminate racism;
. to safeguard and strengthen the rights of workers, women, farmers and minority groups, upon whom the welfare of the entire nation depends;
. to maintain and protect our civil rights and liberties in the face of persistent attacks upon them;
. to use the law as an instrument for the protection of the people, rather than for their repression.
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Doris Brin Walker
A National Lawyers Guild Luminary
Now in her mid-80s
Mid '40s -- The only woman in her class, Walker graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Boalt Hall.
1945-1949 -- After law school, Doris went into California canneries as a labor organizer and was fired from one after another -- sometimes leading to litigation (below).
1956 -- Lost the decision (6:3) in Black v. Cutter Labs, 351 U.S. 292, but won a great dissent by Justice Douglas. The Supreme Court had denied cert. on the narrow holding that the case did not present a federal question.
Cutter Labs fired Walker upon finding out about her law degree and previous labor organizing activities (information she withheld on her employment application and admitted during litigation), and alleged Communist Party membership. The California supreme court held that a firing for CP membership could be called "just cause" if the corporation's contract with the union allowed it.
In denying cert., the Court held that the controversy was within California contracts law, without a federal issue. Justice Douglas (joined in dissent by Chief Justice Warren and Justice Black) wrote, "The blunt truth is that Doris Walker is discharged not for misconduct but either because of her legitimate labor union activities or because of her political ideology or belief," making this a First Amendment case that should have been heard.
'60s & '70s -- Practiced with Robert Truehaft (1912-2001), civil rights and criminal defense crusader (and husband of Jessica Mitford), who once kicked down a door in the Alameda County District Attorney's office to stop a custody interrogation of a client who had invoked -- and was being denied -- his right to counsel.
1970 -- Elected first woman president of the National Lawyers Guild. At the 1970 national convention in Washington D.C., Walker and other women led a major reform of the Guild, including amending the constitution to admit law students to full membership.
1971-1972 -- Defended Angela Davis in her historic California murder, kidnapping, & conspiracy trial in which Davis faced the death penalty.
The defense pioneered use of the media and jury consultants. They litigated every issue aggressively, including challenging venue and the judge. They got the case moved from white, suburban Marin County to more diverse San Jose.
The team included Leo Branton (the first African American entertainment lawyer in California), Margaret Burnham (Davis.s childhood friend, now teaching at Northeastern), Fania Davis (Davis.s sister, now practicing civil rights law in Oakland), Howard Moore (with law clerk Barbara Ratliff), Michael Tigar, Sheldon Otis, Dennis Roberts, and Allan Brotsky.
1976 -- Member of the legal team representing actor Lee Marvin in his famous "palimony" case (Marvin v. Marvin, 18 Cal. 3d 660) .
1979 -- Peralta, 24 C3d 369 -- teachers' union case -- is there anything interesting here?
January 2003 -- As the illegal Iraq war approached, Walker led public education efforts in opposition. With NLG attorney Riva Enteen and others, Walker argued publicly that the offenses of the Bush administration were impeachable.
April 2005 -- Reunited with Angela Davis and other lawyers from the case for the Harvard Law School Saturday School Program, "The Angela Davis Trial: 33 Years Later," moderated by Prof. Charles J. Ogletree Jr. The program inaugurated the Charles Hamiltion Houston Institute for Race & Justice [link] at Harvard.
Currently an active Guild lawyer in the San Francisco Bay chapter; on the Labor & Employment Committee; an East Bay leader in the Gray Panthers.
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