Description:In 1535 one lawyer chose
personal conscience over public loyalty and so threatened those in
power that they killed him!
Some have called Sir Thomas More the first "modern man." He was
certainly the quintessential Renaissance man ... lawyer, statesman,
philosopher, linguist, raconteur, Chancellor of England ... and
author of one of the great books of western civilization, Utopia.
Despite all that, Sir Thomas More was beheaded by King Henry VIII
in 1535 for high treason.
Maxims, Monarchy and Sir Thomas More is a movie
focusing on some of the issues with which lawyers must deal every
day - particularly those situations where there are conflicts
between personal conscience and public loyalties. It takes the
audience into the last intensely intimate hour with Thomas More
just before his execution. Still wrestling with the moral dilemmas
that led him to the block, he cracks jokes, makes up songs, takes
jabs at his tormentors and eventually finds peace in his fate.
Though the story takes place in a religious context, it serves to
provide keen insight into this universal human struggle in secular
settings and explore ethical and moral decisions in legal practice.
It dramatizes Thomas More's work, actions and feelings regarding
his own personal conflict and serves to further explore situations
that are very real for contemporary practitioners.
The movie is followed by a filmed panel discussion and a
live moderated Chat Room Discussion, through which attendees can
generate questions and discussion about ethical issues in legal
practice. Attendees are asked to focus on the issues
demonstrated in the play relating to the ABA Model Rules of
Professional Conduct.
About the Speaker:
 Graham
Thatcher, who portrays William O. Douglas, is the Artistic
Director and primary performer for Periaktos Productions. Since
appearing in his first acting role at five years of age, Graham has
performed in or directed over 150 community, university and
professional theatre productions. He is the co-author and solo
performer in Clarence Darrow: Crimes, Causes and the Courtroom,
Maxims, Monarchy and Sir Thomas More and Impeach Justice Douglas!,
the live CLE Theatre programs and CLE movies of the same titles
presented by Periaktos Productions. He is the co-author and
director of Thurgood Marshall's Coming!, also from Periaktos
Productions. Graham has authored several other plays, including A
Dickens Christmas and The Mask of the Jaguar, about the cultural
clash between the Maya and Europeans during the Spanish Conquest,
and works on commission.
Graham also serves as a workshop facilitator and consultant in
communications and is the creator and facilitator of the Continuing
Legal Education programs, "Word of Mouth: A Workshop in the Art and
Ethics of Oral Communication for Lawyers" and "The Art of the Law:
A Workshop in Professionalism for Lawyers," for law schools and
legal associations. He holds a B.A. from San Francisco State
University, an M.A. in Theatre from the University of South Dakota
and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota. He has
been listed in Who's Who in American Education and Outstanding
American Educators and is a recipient of the Governor's Award from
the Minnesota Council on Quality.
Presented by Periaktos Productions, LLC and Written by
Anna Marie Thatcher, J.D. and Graham Thatcher,
Ph.D.
Webcast Info:Tuition:
NCBA Member $119
Non-Member $139
LANC/PD Member $99
Judge, Law Professor, Law Student, Paralegal Student,
Passport and Early Bird tuition rates do not apply.
Registration for webcasts can only be taken online with a credit
card.
Webcast Dates:
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Location:
No accommodations information available at this time. Please check back for updates. |