TBA and Memphis Law to Host 'Balancing Civility and Free Expression' Event

The Tennessee Bar Association and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law will hold a public forum on the issue of free speech and civility in the public square on Sept. 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the law school's Wade Auditorium. In announcing the forum, TBA President Jacqueline B. Dixon said, "The TBA is pleased to be a part of such an important project. We cannot preserve our democracy without finding the right balance between free speech and civility."

The Balancing Civility and Free Expression Initiative is designed to encourage a public conversation about the tensions between civility and free speech, the state of our public square and the challenges of maintaining civil discourse in a democracy. The initiative will involve three public forums -- one in Memphis, one in Nashville and one in Knoxville. Each forum will focus on a particular topic, feature a panel of experts who will present real-life scenarios that raise civility and free speech issues, and conclude with a question and answer session with the audience. The forums are free and open to the public.

The program is part of Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy — A National Dialogue, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and conducted in partnership with the American Bar Association Division for Public Education.  Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association or any of their program partners.

	American Bar Association With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. The mission of its Division for Public Education is to educate the public about law and its role in society. Learn more about the ABA at www.americanbar.org. Learn more about the Division for Public Education's "Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy" program at www.ambar.org/civility
	National Endowment for the Humanities  Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. "Civility and Free Expression in a Constitutional Democracy -- A National Dialogue" is funded by the NEH under the Bridging Cultures Initiative. Learn more at www.neh.gov
	Tennessee Bar Association The Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) is the largest professional association in Tennessee with more than 11,000 members. Founded in 1881, the TBA provides opportunities for continuing legal education, professional development and public service. The TBA's dedication to serving the state's legal community is evidenced by its membership roll, which represents the entire spectrum of legal practice: plaintiff and defense lawyers, corporate counsel, judges, prosecutors, public defenders, government lawyers and legal services attorneys. Learn more about the TBA at www.tba.org.
	University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, which first held classes in 1962 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, prepares graduates for private practice and public service. The school is located in the former U.S. Customs House in downtown Memphis, near the city's judicial and legal community and was ranked by preLaw magazine as a best value law school, based on three criteria: low tuition, the high percentage of graduates passing the Tennessee bar exam, and the success of graduates in finding employment. The school is accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, the official accrediting agency for legal education, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools, the society for legal education in the United States. Graduates of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law include judges, other public servants, and leading practitioners in the Mid-South and throughout the nation. Visit the school online