Arthur Kinoy, famous for his involvement in controversial court cases during cases during the late 1960s and 70s, will speak tonight at 7 in the Student Center Auditorium.

Todd Reardon, executive committee member of the SIUC National Lawyers Guild said Kinoy was, Primarily making sure minority people aren’t trampled. He’s making sure people’s constitutional rights aren’t taken away by the government.

Reardon said after a phone call to Rutgers University, Kinoy was interested in coming to SIU and speaking to law students.

Advertisement

The speech, which is open to the public at no charge, will be preluded by a biographical video of Kinoy.

Reardon said Kinoy wants many to be in attendance so he may inform listeners of their rights.

He wants to use the law as a tool to keep constitutional rights for all people, Reardon said.

Reardon said he is excited that Kinoy is coming.

I was elated. He’s very down to earth. He never had any inhibitions about coming.

Reardon said some of Kinoy’s most famous cases and projects include:n a court appeal he won in 1968 for the Chicago Seven, a group of demonstrators who because of anti-war beliefs were found guilty of conspiracy.

n activism in the Mississippi Summer Project which worked for gaining voting rights for African-Americans.

Advertisement*

n leading an appeal for Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, convicted of treason during the Cold War, who Despite Kinoy’s efforts and were found guilty and sentenced to death.

Probably Kinoy’s most notable case involved a Supreme Court ruling on wiretapping, Reardon said. Kinoy claimed the government did not have the right to spy on the public by tapping telephones. Kinoy won the case and the government now has to have a warrant to tap a person’s phone.

When Kinoy said he would speak to SIU law students, Reardon said he was overjoyed.

Kinoy is currently an emeritus professor at Rutgers University.