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What: Silha Center’s 33rd Annual Lecture
“The First Amendment and #MeToo”
Featuring Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr.
When: October 17, 2018; 7:30 pm
Where: Cowles Auditorium in the Hubert H. Humphrey Center on the West Bank of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus
The #MeToo movement’s campaign focuses on accusations of sexual harassment and assault. But it also raises free speech issues. As both accusers and the accused level charges and counter-charges, does traditional First Amendment doctrine governing libel still make sense?
Attorney Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr., a long-time advocate for the news media, represents actor Ashley Judd in her defamation lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein. Judd claims that the producer made false and malicious statements about her professionalism after she rebuffed his advances – charges Weinstein denies. As the lawyer who successfully overturned the largest defamation verdict of all time against The Wall Street Journal, and who offered to defend “anyone who Donald Trump sues for speaking freely,” Boutrous will discuss why he represents a libel plaintiff in this case, and why he believes the rise of social media platforms has disrupted constitutional norms.
Global co-chair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Litigation Group, Boutrous received his law degree summa cum laude from the University of San Diego’s School of Law in 1987, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review. He is a member of the Advisory Board of International Women’s Media Foundation, and was its 2015 Leadership Honoree.
This event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.
Click here to watch a video of the Lecture.
