USA - Citizen Justice: The Environmental Legacy of William O. Douglas.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, perhaps the most famous graduate of Whitman College, is remembered for his lasting contributions to environmental law—with trees still standing, dams unbuilt, and beaches protected as a result of his work.
His merged roles as citizen advocate and justice also put him squarely in the center of ethical dilemmas that he never fully resolved during his long tenure on the Court from 1939-1975.
Author and Judge M. Margaret McKeown explores these dilemmas against the backdrop of Douglas’ extraordinary environmental legacy and his colorful life and career, in ways that illuminate what it might mean to be a strong environmental citizen in our era.
The Judge M. Margaret McKeown lecture is sponsored by The Robert and Mabel Groseclose Endowed Lecture Fund and The Governor Arthur B. Langlie Fund for Northwest History, Politics, and Public Service endowment.
