Civil Rights Attorney to Keynote Annual TPI Lecture
Attorney Deborah L. Gordon, known for leading the case against Andrew Shirvell, will be the keynote speaker of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute’s annual lecture on Thursday, March 26.
As a trial attorney, Gordon has specialized in employment and civil rights law for more than 30 years. She’s tried dozens of cases successfully, including the case on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union which ultimately put an end to drunk driving road block stops by the Michigan State Police on the basis that they are a violation of individual civil liberties.
More recently, Gordon represented Chris Armstrong, former University of Michigan Student Assembly president, in a lawsuit against Andrew Shirvell. Armstrong alleged defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and stalking, among other charges, against Shirvell after Shirvell launched a campaign of anti-gay rhetoric against Armstrong. Shirvell was a Michigan assistant attorney general at the time, and the case garnered national attention. Shirvell was ordered to pay $4.5 million dollars in damages.
Since 1987 Gordon has been listed in Best Lawyers in America (published annually by Woodward & White) as one of the best employment lawyers in the United States. She is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and has received the highest rating possible from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review national Legal Directory. Crain's Detroit Business named her as one of Michigan's 100 Most Influential Women in 2007. In 2009 she was named by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of Michigan's Leaders in the Law.
The speech begins at 6 p.m. in the Clif and Carolyn Haley Moot Courtroom. A reception will follow from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the 4th Floor atrium. Please RSVP to MSU Law Professor Veronica Valentine McNally at valent29@law.msu.edu by Tuesday, March 25.
Last updated: March 19, 2015
