Clarence Darrow: Attorney for the Damned

Throughout his career, Clarence Darrow defended gangsters, psychopaths, crooked politicians, and greedy corporations. Often he didn’t take cases for the money. He did it to make a larger point about constitutional law. Early in his career he defended railroad-union activist Eugene Debs as part of the Pullman strike case. Later, Darrow represented Chicago teenaged killers Leopold and Loeb to make an impassioned plea against capital punishment. He defended Tennessee school teacher John Scopes to spark a national debate about modern science versus religious fundamentalism. Darrow defended Black physician Ossian Sweet against murder charges to expose racial hatred. In this study group you will take a deep dive into the how and why behind several of Darrow’s high profile cases and their lasting impact. Also, you will examine the complex evolution of Darrow into the myth that became part of a decades-long cultural zeitgeist. Our source materials, which will be provided via links, will include excerpts from Darrow’s autobiography, excerpts from a comprehensive biography of Darrow, transcripts of his legal arguments, articles and newsreel footage from his various cases, and a sampling of the plays, movies, and TV productions that used Darrow and his legal arguments for creative drama.