Robert H. Jackson was a member of the Scottish Rite Masonic Lodge in Jamestown NY, which was housed in the Kent Mansion that the Center acquired in 2001. In this photo, he is receiving the 33rd Degree jewel, the highest honor bestowed by the Masonic Supreme Council.

Justice at Home

"...tonight I toast “A Progressive Democracy,” not in a partisan sense, though I am proud that my party and the party of my fathers has contributed more to it than any other. I toast a progressive democracy rather as the genius and achievement of our people. It is not perfection and it has not brought perfection. Indeed, that ideal will probably always retreat as we approach it. I toast democracy not alone for what it is, but chiefly for what it may become; not merely for what it has done, but also for what it makes possible for us and our children to do." 

-Robert H. Jackson, A Progressive Democracy

Welcome to Justice at Home, a special edition newsletter from the Robert H. Jackson Center that hits your inbox every 3 weeks with updates on our virtual programming, lesson plans and lectures, and interesting finds from our digital archives. 

If you enjoy this newsletter, please forward this email to a friend and share it on your social media pages. Make sure to tag us (@roberthjacksoncenter) and use the hashtag #JusticeatHome.

Tea Time with the Jackson Center 

Tea Time with the Jackson Center takes both a look back at Jackson's place in history and a look forward showing how his legacy influences current events and contributes to our discussions today. Our 2021 Program theme is The Work Left to Do. We'll be looking at issues of equity, law, and justice through a Jacksonian lens. Each month will focus on a specific topic within our guiding theme. During the month of January, we'll be looking at equity gaps from a racial perspective. 

Our next Tea Time with the Jackson Center is Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 3pm. Our guest is Eva Paterson (pictured), President and Co-Founder of the Equal Justice Society, a legal organization transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts. Eva and Kristan will discuss the work of the Equal Justice Society to further equity and equality.

If you have a Facebook account, follow RHJC's page and Kristan's page. You can interact with us and ask questions of our guests by commenting on the video during the live stream. If you don't have a Facebook account, you can still watch the Teas on the Center's public Facebook page.

Our first #TeawithRHJC of 2021 featured Juan R. Thomas, the Vice Chair of the American Bar Association Civil Rights & Social Justice Section. He and Kristan discussed the equity gap through a race-based lens. Watch it on our YouTube channel here.

Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and share the videos with your family and friends on social media using the hashtag #TeawithRHJC.

Coming Up at the Jackson Center

Thursday, January 21 at noon EST: Awash in Blood: The Blackwater Pardons In partnership with Case Western Reserve University School of Law, join us for a roundtable discussion of the legal, practical and political issues surrounding President Trump's pardon of the Blackwater employees convicted of war crimes in the Iraq War. The roundtable discussion will be moderated by Professor Avidan Y. Cover and features notable experts in international law including:

• David M. Crane, Robert H. Jackson Center Board member and Founding Chief Prosecutor Special Court for Sierra Leone;
• Beth Van Schaak, Professor, Stanford School of Law;
• Stephen Rapp, Former Ambassador, Office of Global Criminal Justice;
• Michael Newton, Professor of the Practice of Law, Vanderbilt University; and
• James C. Johnson, Former Robert H. Jackson Center President and CEO, and Professor of Law and Director of the War Crimes Research Office at Case Western University School of Law.

Click here to register for this webinar through Case Western Reserve University School of Law's website. 1.5 CLE credits are available pending approval. 

Thursday, January 28 at 3:00pm: Tea Time with the Jackson Center with Eva Paterson

Tuesday, February 2 at 10:30am: Story Time at the Jackson Center with the Prendergast Library  Join our friend Mr. Oliver from the Jamestown Prendergast Library on Facebook as he reads a story live from the Jackson Center! You can access the Prendergast Library's Facebook page here.

(L to R) Michael Baronich, RHJC Education Advisor, 2020 Teacher Fellows Ryan Barrett, Amy Thompson, and Bob Fenster, and RHJC President Kristan McMahon. On Screen: 2020 Teacher Fellow Anne Walker

Calling All Teachers!

The Robert H. Jackson Center is accepting applications for its 2021 Teacher Fellow program. Educators will work with the Jackson Center Archives and local institutions to create meaningful and engaging educational experiences through the relevance of Justice Jackson’s body of work during an immersion week beginning July 19, 2021. Educators will be encouraged to empower and inspire students to discuss and reflect on the universal principles of equality, fairness, and justice.

To be accepted into the program, educators must demonstrate excellence in the classroom and participation in community and professional organizations, as well as knowledge of the importance of Justice Jackson and his contributions to issues of civil liberty.  Fellows are invited to the Jackson Center, or may utilize a virtual platform. Find out more about the program and application process here. Applications are due by Monday, February 15, 2021. 

From Jackson's Desk

Robert H. Jackson was a gifted orator and writer. Many of his articles and speech transcripts are housed on our website. We feature them in our weekly #TuesdayMotivation and #SundayQuote on the Jackson Center's social media pages. 

On Sunday evening, January 19, 1941 (Inauguration Eve), Attorney General Robert H. Jackson was scheduled to give a keynote speech at a Washington, D.C., gala dinner for the presidential electors. The Democratic Party sought to feature Jackson, one of its brightest young (age 48) stars and future presidential prospects, before this large, particularly significant national political audience. Jackson, assigned to speak about “A Progressive Democracy,” wrote his own speech for the occasion – as he almost always did – but when the evening arrived, Jackson could not participate due to illness. His friend and colleague, Solicitor General Francis Biddle, instead delivered Jackson’s speech at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel to a crowd of more than 1,500 guests, including the 531 electors, Cabinet members, Members of Congress and State Governors:

"In these times when all democracy is on trial, it is a welcome sign of your faith and courage that the subject which is assigned to me is “A Progressive Democracy.” That is not a defensive title, and it has no defeatist note in it. It rings with hope and challenge. It is only a progressive democracy that can withstand the pressure of the anti-democratic forces which are making a drive for a “new social order” in the world."

Read the entire address at our website here.

From the Archives

A Senate Judiciary sub-committee considering the nomination of Robert H. Jackson to be Solicitor General of the United States opened hearings in January of 1938. From L to R: Mr. Jackson; Senator George McGill, Chairman and Attorney General Homer S. Cummings.

Enjoying our Programs, Events & Articles?

We hope so. You can help the Jackson Center keep these educational opportunities free to the public with a charitable gift to our 2021 Annual Fund. All gifts are welcome.

Click here and partner with us to bring more voices together in civil conversation. Your gifts help advance our vision of a global society where the universal principles of equality, fairness and justice prevail. Thank you.