I’m in Boston this week for the first time since the 20th Century and am very excited to be back here after so long. After I saw Boston’s most important monument — the statue for the Make Way for Ducklings ducklings — I had a chance to pause and reflect on the city’s great legal and historical significance.
Of course, key moments leading up to the American Revolution happened here: the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, and the Battle of Bunker Hill. Many great early American leaders also hail from Boston, including John Hancock and Abigail Adams. Abigail’s husband was not only the second President of the United States but also a lawyer. As a lawyer he believed so strongly in the right to counsel that he provided a successful legal defense to the British soldiers who were accused in the Boston Massacre. He also nominated, years later, the great John Marshall to be the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, a key nomination that shaped the future of the judicial branch of the federal government.
On a lighter — and more contemporary — note, Boston also ties together my love of the law, geek stuff, and Hollywood. Boston Legal, of course, provided the original Captain Kirk with his other iconic role, as the lawyer Denny Crane (I refuse to acknowledge that cop show). And, just yesterday, one of my girl crushes, Mindy Kaling, gave the commencement speech at Harvard Law. In fact, I think she’s still in Boston so maybe I can bump into her! Time to stop blogging!
But first…if you’re ever in Boston, you really need to see the ducklings. And even if you don’t have kids, read the book. It’s cute and the illustrations are adorable.