This is the first civil rights trial in American history.

The issue of slavery versus freedom rears its ugly head in this American court case, more than two decades before the Civil War explodes in 1861.

This case pits the American government against the Spanish government, the President against his own Secretary of State, the executive branch versus the judicial branch, and abolitionists against slave traders. It even prompted a former President to appear before the Supreme Court to condemn the policies of a present Administration.

This case finally received the recognition it deserved from Stephen Spielberg’s 1997 Academy Award-nominated feature film, Amistad.

Justice Dennis J. Curran (ret.) served as a Massachusetts trial judge for 15 years. He is a graduate of Boston Latin School, the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. and M.A.) and the University of Virginia School of Law.

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