Mark Your Calendars: Countdown to an Execution Screening, March 10

Those of you who have been reading for a while will remember that, last summer, while working at Northwestern University's Center on Wrongful Convictions, I had an amazing opportunity to work on a petition for executive clemency for Darnell Williams, whose execution was scheduled for July 5. In the weeks leading up to the execution date, a film crew from A&E shadowed Darnell's lawyer, Juliet Yackel, Darnell, and, sometimes, us. The result of that effort is Countdown to an Execution, a one-hour documentary film that is scheduled to run on A&E on March 16, 8PM EST.

On Thursday, March 10 at 7PM, however, there will be a screening at NYU School of Law's Vanderbilt Hall* followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers, Juliet, me, and probably a professor who will give a broader perspective on the role of executive clemency. While the film focuses on Darnell and Juliet and not really us students, I would be thrilled to share this story with you (and I am told that I'm the only student who gets to speak in the film :-) ). Juliet was named 2004 Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the Indiana Bar Association for her work on this case. The screening is open to the public, so if you're in NYC and can make it, please come. There will also be another screening on March 8, but I'm not sure of the details on that one.

And if you can't make it, I encourage you to tune in to A&E at 8PM EST on March 16!

THE CAVEAT is that I haven't yet seen the film. I'm hoping to get a copy in a few days, so if it's crappy I'll consider revoking this invitation ;-).

I'll post a reminder closer to the date of both events, so check back in case anything changes.

* Vanderbilt Hall is on the corner of MacDougal and W. 4th St., across from Washington Square Park. Take the A,C,E,F,V,B, or D trains to W. 4th and walk East from there.