Why Stories Matter: Narrative, Law and Justice, May 12

Marquette University Law School will host the annual Boden Lecture, "Why Stories Matter: Narrative, Law and Justice," featuring Alan Jenkins of Harvard Law School on Tuesday, May 12, at 4 p.m. in the Lubar Center. A reception will follow at 5 p.m.

The lecture will examine how storytelling shapes law and public policy, exploring how judges, advocates and activists use narrative and framing to influence legal interpretation and public understanding. Drawing on examples from court opinions, legal briefs and public campaigns, the presentation will address how metaphor, moral framing and historical narratives affect issues such as voting rights, criminal punishment and equality.

Jenkins, professor of practice at Harvard Law School and co-founder of The Opportunity Agenda, previously served in the Office of the Solicitor General of the United States, at the Ford Foundation and with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. The annual lecture honors the legacy of Robert F. Boden, dean of Marquette Law School from 1965 to 1984.

The event is free and open to the public. Register here.