Atticus and us.

AuthorMcGrane, Miles
PositionInfluence of Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' - President's Page

Atticus and Us

I am a collector.

My collection is rather eclectic. It ranges from Pez dispensers to beer steins to Howdy Doody memorabilia, and old books.

On June 12, I acquired a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird, signed by the author, Harper Lee. This book, which was awarded a Pulitzer Prize, is set in Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s and addresses problems of racism and moral justice. Coincidentally, the book was delivered to me on the same day that actor Gregory Peck died. One of Peck's most outstanding performances was in the 1962 movie in which he portrayed Lee's character, lawyer Atticus Finch. To Kill a Mockingbird was Peck's favorite film and the only one for which he earned an Academy Award.

Interestingly, the week before Peck died, the American Film Industry voted Atticus Finch the number on hero in the history of American films.

That's right, the number one hero is a lawyer. A trial lawyer.

I never really considered that being a lawyer was heroic. Historically, we know most of the founders of this country were lawyers who dared enormous risks, including their lives, to establish this democratic country.

Lawyers were at the forefront of the civil rights movement, again endangering their lives to correct the wrongs being inflected on their clients.

Does one have to risk his or her life and property to be considered a hero? I think not.

Though lawyers are often maligned and portrayed as scapegoats for all that is wrong in our country, our profession guarantees liberty and equal justice for all.

In defending Tom Robinson, Atticus Finch says,

But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal--there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court. It can be the Supreme Court of the United States or the humblest J.P. court in the land.... Our courts have their faults, as does any human institution, but...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT