by Shruti Mungi '19

The traveling Bicentennial of Illinois Law Exhibit is on display through February 17 in the Bayer Study Area on the third floor of Knox College's Alumni Hall.

The three-tower exhibit, which showcases the contributions of the legal community to the history of Illinois, gives information about prominent lawyers and cases in Illinois history, how the court system operates, and a general history of the judiciary’s first 200 years of existence. The exhibit allows for a 360-degree educational experience at each tower.

Cases featured include Block v. City of Chicago, which concerned the first movie censorship laws, and lawyers featured include Ferdinand Barnett, one of the first African-American attorneys licensed in Illinois. The exhibit also highlights the role of the judicial branch in upholding the rule of law, providing a forum for dispute resolution, and interpreting the law.

"While there is a lot of attention today on the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal bench, it’s worth learning about your state’s own judicial system and history,” said Jeff Douglas, Director of Seymour Library. “This exhibit is a useful reminder that people both within and outside the judicial system have worked hard to address its shortcomings and inequities, the result being a more responsive and inclusive system."

The Bicentennial of Illinois Law Exhibit, which opened in Chicago in 2018, is now traveling during 2019 to college and university locations around the state. It is one of several bicentennial activities sponsored by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission to commemorate 200 years of the Illinois judicial branch. The Illinois Bicentennial Commission recognizes 2018 as an opportunity to celebrate the many cultural, economic, academic, and political contributions that Illinois and its residents have made to the nation and the world.