Chicago attorney Chet Kamin joins host Amy Gunn to discuss his role in the landmark Stamler v. Willis litigation, which helped bring about the end of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Arguing that Dr. Jeremiah Stamler was targeted for his political beliefs, Kamin and his colleagues challenged the committee’s activities as unconstitutional and a violation of free expression. He reflects on the turbulent 1960s and 70s – marked by the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, and a widespread public distrust of authority – and how societal change helped shape the judiciary’s role in protecting individual rights. Kamin also examines how threats to the Rule of Law persist today and emphasizes the importance of lawyers acting with integrity and courage to defend the Constitution.
