Here is an ACLU Event that may interest some of our readers:

Legal Scholar to Give Comedic Talk on History of Fifth Amendment at ACLU Bill of Rights Forum   

Event Will Also Recognize High School Essay Contest Winners

   PHOENIX -  From private confessions in the Book of Genesis to torture andcompelled testimony during the Tudor Monarchy, legal scholar and publicdefender Robert J. McWhirter will deliver a humorous talk on the history ofyour 5th Amendment right to be free from compelled testimony during an ACLUof Arizona event on Sunday, February 11th.    

The presentation, sponsored by the ACLU of Arizona's Central Chapter, isentitled "From Testicles to Dragnet: How the 5th Amendment Protects All ofUs." It will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, February 11th at the InterTribalCouncil of Arizona, 2214 N. Central Avenue, in Phoenix.  The program is freeand open to the public. Call 602-650-1854 for more information.    

McWhirter will recap the historical origins of the Fifth Amendment datingback from the early Jewish history up until 1791 when the Bill of Rights wasratified. "During this time in our history, people were tied up with thewhole notion of private confession," said McWhirter, who is a legal defenderwith the Maricopa County Legal Defender's Office.  

He said he came up with the title after learning about an ancient traditionof swearing on male genitalia when taking an oath - the worst form ofcompulsion during the early Christian era. He created the presentation to"respond to the movement toward originalism" in law, made popular today byU.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who believes the U.S.Constitution is NOT "a living breathing document." "People should learn thereal history in order to get a better understanding of how it's beinginterpreted," said McWhirter. "If you understand where it comes from, you'rein a better position to argue what it should it be."   

At the event, chapter board members also will honor the winners of a Bill ofRights Essay Contest. The winners are: Fehima Sharifi (First Place-Grade12); Etika Monarrez (2nd Place-Grade 12); and Honorable Mentions: AshleyBarnett (Grade 12), Felipe Flores (Grade 12) and Casseisha Andrews-Staten(Grade 11). They wrote about the "Bill of Rights: What's in It For Me." Allstudents are from Alhambra High School, instructors Suzanne Gallaher andMiss Deahl. The essay winners will be presented with their cash prizes ($200for first place and $125 for second place) during a short ceremony precedingMcWhirter's talk, which is based on a book he is writing of possibly thesame name.

This will be his third book, including The Criminal Lawyer'sGuide to Immigration Law.


Monday, January 29, 2007   Contact:Phoenix: Alessandra Soler Meetze, Executive Director, ACLU-AZ, 602-418-5499