Oral history interviews with attorney and professor Michael Mushlin conducted by Michigan Law 3L Alanna Autler on March 30, 2023, and April 14, 2023. These interviews with attorney and Professor Michael Mushlin address his childhood in Meridian, Mississippi, his education, and his early career, as well as his time as a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society's Prisoners' Rights Project. During his time with the Project, Professor Mushlin litigated several cases on behalf of pre-trial detainees in New York City's jail system. In these interviews, Professor Mushlin reflects on those cases and their legacy, as well as the effect of the Prison Litigation Reform Act.
These interviews with attorney and Professor Michael Mushlin address his childhood in Meridian, Mississippi, his education, and his early career, as well as his time as a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society's Prisoners' Rights Project. During his time with the Project, Professor Mushlin litigated several cases on behalf of pre-trial detainees in New York City's jail system. In these interviews, Professor Mushlin reflects on those cases and their legacy, as well as the effect of the Prison Litigation Reform Act.
View Part I of the interview with Professor Mushlin:
In Part I, Professor Mushlin discusses his background, education, and legal career, with particular focus on lawsuits challenging conditions in the New York City jails in the 1970s and 1980s, including Rhem v. Malcolm [at 27:50], Benjamin v. Horn [at 45:44], and Bell v. Wolfish [at 1:00:45].
View Part II of the interview with Professor Mushlin:
In Part II, Professor Mushlin reflects on the effect of the Prison Litigation Reform Act on the New York City jail cases and beyond, as well as recent U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence related to the rights of prisoners and pre-trial detainees.
By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
March 30, 2023
Contents: Clearinghouse Oral History Project Interview with Attorney and Professor Michael Mushlin (Spring 2023)
Part I
[00:45-7:00] Childhood, including growing up in the deep South during the Jim Crow era
[07:10-9:20] Time at Vanderbilt University during the Civil Rights movement
[9:21-10:17] Professional ambitions and journey to law school
[11:56-15:10] Professor Mushlin’s family's immigration to the U.S.
[15:25-20:50] Interest in civil rights and prison litigation and early career
[20:53-27:47] Background and overview of the New York City jails lawsuits
[27:50-45:40] Rhem v. Malcolm
[45:42-1:00:41] Benjamin v. Horn
[1:00:43-1:16:25] Bell v. Wolfish
Full Video
By: Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
April 14, 2023
Contents: Clearinghouse Oral History Project Interview with Attorney and Professor Michael Mushlin (Spring 2023)
Part II
[00:30-11:54] The Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA)
[11:55-21:56] U.S. Supreme Court Jurisprudence post-PLRA
[21:58-23:43] On Touring Jails and Prisons
[Full Video]