Approved for 1 Hour of Professionalism and 1 Hour of Ethics CLE Credit.
Please join the Eastern District of Louisiana and the New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. for the Annual Alvin B. Rubin Symposium: A Night at the (Courthouse) Theater: A play reenacting and reflecting on Fred Korematsu and his Fight for Justice. This ethics and professionalism program is a living memorial to Judge Alvin Rubin’s contribution to federal jurisprudence and legal scholarship.
Performing a script authored by United States Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin, a cast of federal judges and other distinguished guests will reenact the story of Fred Korematsu and his fight for justice. The story recounts the trial and events leading up to the Supreme Court’s controversial 1944 decision to uphold the constitutionality of interning Japanese-Americans, as well as the later legal proceedings that resulted in Korematsu’s conviction being vacated.
This historic courtroom theater will use real excerpts from transcripts and will be accompanied by slides of historic photographs, drawings, and documents to be projected as the script is performed, which will help transport viewers back to the historical context of the time. Using the original words and images will lead to a deeper understanding of the history and to new insights into important ethics and professionalism issues that are still relevant today.
The reenactment will be followed by comments by United States Fifth Circuit Judge Stephen Higginson on those important professional and ethical issues implicated by the case.
Both the cast and commentary will feature federal circuit, district, magistrate judges, including, at present: United States Fifth Circuit Judge Stephen Higginson, Eastern District of Louisiana Chief Judge Wendy Vitter, District Judges Susie Morgan, Jane Milazzo, Darrel Papillion, Brandon Long; Eastern District of Louisiana Magistrate Judge Eva Dossier; as well as Federal Public Defender Claude Kelly and former United States Attorney Duane Evans. The performance will be directed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Janis van Meerveld.
The program will be followed by a light reception, from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. The program will also be accessible via zoom.
Approved for 1 Hour of Professionalism and 1 Hour of Ethics CLE Credit.
Link to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/34th-annual-judge-alvin-b-rubin-symposium-tickets-1720689080359?aff=oddtdtcreator