FARMINGTON – Why, in America today, is there so much political discord? Why is there so much controversy over so many social issues? These questions will be examined by the University of Maine at Farmington Public Classroom series with “Social Change and the Crisis of American Law,” a presentation by Frank Underkuffler, Maine attorney and UMF faculty member.
This talk will take place at 6:30 pm with refreshments at 6 pm on Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the UMF Emery Community Arts Center. It is free and open to the public.
Underkuffler’s thesis is that the problem is not “them” or “us” but “it,” and with this presentation, will put the law on trial. He will place the blame for our nation’s present difficulties, not on persons, parties, or ideologies, but on the adversarial legal system itself, and more particularly, on that system’s almost complete disregard for social change. He will trace this systemic failure back to the English common law, on which our legal system is based, and he will show how it has created chaos in our nation’s legislatures, courtrooms and streets.
Underkuffler studied philosophy at Oxford University and law at the University of Minnesota. He has practiced law since 1985, with a concentration in public sector law. He is the attorney for Franklin County, the Town of Farmington and many other area towns. He regularly teaches courses in philosophy, including philosophy of law, at UMF.
The UMF Public Classroom Series is sponsored by the UMF Office of the President.
Geez, Frank, I bet this will be interesting to attend. But its a long drive for me, so I’ll have to read about it. BTW, you still have that youthful look, but that hairline……..what happened?
This kind of lecture (or presentation) would be an excellent use of the University online. Driving from anyplace, Maine makes planning and attendance tough in the winter. Hoping UMF and other campuses might expand their use of digital resources—-they’ve had them for years—to all of us who help fund the system. Thoughts?
Excellent idea Steve. Not only streaming live but having it archived for viewing at a later date.
Especially in the winter I make it a habit not to drive at night. I really wanted to go.
Tonight’s program will be livestreamed on UMF’s Main and Media Relations Facebook pages, MBTV Facebook page and the MBTV website.