Total Credits: 2.2 MCLE, 2.2 Ethics, 2.2 Elimination of Bias
Sponsored by MoBarCLE and The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers' Section
Film Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/TheMillyTour/videos/the-milly-project-trailer/352349953325168/
“The Milly Project,” tells the story of an enslaved woman named Milly Sawyers who fought for and won her freedom in Springfield, Missouri before the Civil War. This film adaptation of the original play is written and directed by Kendra Chappell and details the many trials and tribulations of Sawyers, as taken from handwritten court manuscripts only recently uncovered by local archivists. The play continues to be shown across the State, and now the film seeks to widen the reach of Sawyers’ story. In 2021, The Milly Project was nominated for three awards at the New York International Film Festival, including Best Screenplay (Winner), Best Social Justice Film (Winner), and Best Acting Ensemble.
5 p.m. | Reception (food and drinks provided)
5:30-6:30 p.m. | Film Presentation, The Milly Project (2021)
6:30-6:40 p.m. | Break
6:40-7:30 p.m. | Panel discussion: Hon. Duane Benton, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit; Dr. Antonio Holland, historian and retired professor; Christa Moss, Assistant U.S. Attorney and member of Missouri Board of Governors
7:30 p.m. | Adjourn
Attendees must stay for the panel discussion to receive credit for watching the movie.
Register soon! Registration is limited to 50.
Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.
| Milly Project Written Materials.pdf (6.39 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Black Lawyers of Missouri_ 150 Years of Progress and Promise.pdf (1.87 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| Dred Scott article.pdf (0.11 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| 1807 Freedom Statute (0.73 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| 1824 Freedom Statute (1.11 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
Judge Benton became a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, in 2004. He previously served on the Missouri Supreme Court for 13 years (including two years as Chief Justice). He graduated from Northwestern University (with highest honors) and Yale Law School (serving as Law Journal managing editor).
Christa Moss, Missouri Bar Board of Governor for the Southern District, currently serves as a Civil Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. She was formerly a law Clerk for the Federal Chief Magistrate Judge, David Rush, as well as a civil defense litigator in a mid-size firm in Tulsa, OK, and an Assistant City Attorney for the Kansas City, MO, City Attorney's Office. Christa received her Bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Ok, and earned her J.D. from the College of William and Mary in 2012. Christa is an alumna of the Missouri Bar Leadership program and previously served on the Missouri Bar YLS Board. She is actively involved in the state and local bars as well as community activities, serving on a number of civic and non-profit boards.
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