Professor Jonathan Rapping, Professor of Law, Director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program (CJCP), and Faculty Director of the Criminal and Civil Justice Institute (CCJI) at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (AJMLS), recently served as the opening keynote speaker at The South and the Next 250, a national convening focused on the future of criminal justice in America.
Rapping is also the founder and president of Gideon’s Promise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming public defense and advancing equal justice. He was invited to deliver an opening keynote address at The South and the Next 250, where he spoke about the critical role of the right to counsel and the power of a strong network of public defenders. During his remarks, he highlighted the transformative work of Gideon’s Promise in driving culture change throughout the public defense system and discussed CCJI’s mission to develop lawyers committed to serving people and communities that have historically lacked access to justice. He also shared his perspective on the unique strengths of AJMLS students and their potential to help address the nation’s justice gap.
Held on May 13 and 14, The South and the Next 250 was hosted by The Just Trust and The Marshall Project and brought together national leaders in the criminal justice field. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the convening encouraged participants to examine the nation’s criminal justice shortcomings over its first 250 years and consider how to build a system grounded in dignity, equity, and humanity for the next 250 years.
The South was selected as the focus of the gathering in recognition of the region’s central role in the struggle for criminal and racial justice. Atlanta was chosen as the host city because of its historic significance in the civil rights movement. A central theme of the event was that the South will lead the push for justice in the years ahead.
The convening began with a special screening of Crime and Punishment in America, a four-part, eight-hour documentary series directed by Lynn Novick and executive produced by Ken Burns. The series examines the history of the American criminal justice system from the pre-colonial era through the 21st century and is scheduled to air this fall.
Professor Rapping was joined by members of the Gideon’s Promise team, who spent the event engaging with justice leaders from across the country and sharing information about the work being done through CCJI.