News Archive
Professor Tarkington Discussed Abuse of Government Power in Lecture
04/11/2022
IU McKinney Professor Margaret Tarkington delivered the Miller Becker Center’s Distinguished Lecture in Professional Responsibility on April 8 at the University of Akron School of Law.
Professor Tarkington’s topic was “The 2020 Election & Constitutional Governance: Examining the Rights & Responsibilities of Lawyers.”
“I spoke about the role and responsibility of lawyers in public and private advocacy surrounding attempts to overturn the 2020 election,” Professor Tarkington said. “My overarching theme was that the abuse of government power is an especially serious evil—one that can overthrow democracies and even deprive people of life and liberty. I, of course, spoke of Russia’s war against Ukraine as a horrific example of the ultimate abuse of government power. I also talked about the role that misinformation plays in effectuating such abuses. Lawyers for government must be gatekeepers against such abuse, and can be disciplined for advice, assistance, and public advocacy that defrauds the public and/or effectuates such abuse.” Much of her remarks are covered in her paper, “The Role of Attorney Speech and Advocacy in the Subversion & Protection of Constitutional Governance,” which is forthcoming in the Washington University of Law and Policy. This work predates the war in Ukraine.
The Miller Becker Center for Professional Responsibility is a nationally recognized academic center dedicated to enhancing public trust and confidence in the legal profession and the judicial system.
Professor Tarkington is a noted expert in this area. Her book, Voice of Justice: Reclaiming the First Amendment Rights of Lawyers, was published in 2018. She is a dean’s fellow and co-director of the J.D. Program and Evaluation Assessment at IU McKinney, where she teaches professional responsibility, civil procedure, and federal courts.
In this photo, Professor Tarkington (left) is with Professor John P. Sahl, director of the Joseph G. Miller and William C. Beker Center for Professional Responsibility at the University of Akron School of Law.
