With the movie release today of Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Marion Cotillard as Dillinger’s girlfriend Evelyn ‘Billie’ Frechette, it’s fitting that a re-creation of the 1934 trial of Frechette is on the way as a continuing legal education (CLE) event from West LegalEdcenter.
(Photo courtesy: Minnesota Historical Society)
Dillinger’s Moll: The Trial of Evelyn ‘Billie’ Frechette will be a live event in St. Paul, Minn. – and online – on July 14, beginning at 7 p.m. Central. The re-enactment will take place in the F. K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium inside St. Paul’s Landmark Center, the actual location of Frechette’s trial. After the live event, the CLE will then be available on-demand, online.
Billie Frechette was charged with unlawfully harboring and concealing Dillinger.
The trial re-creation will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting four legal issues in the case:
*Forensic evidence: From fingerprints to CSI
*Jury instructions: A judge’s authority to make comments to the jury
*In-custody interrogation: Right to counsel and recording requirements
*Courtroom decorum: Rules and strategies
The performance is directed by Steve Peterson. It is based on the actual court record as adapted by Charles N. Adams Jr. Frechette’s original trial took place on May 15, 1934, in courtroom 317 of the then Federal Courts Building.
While 75 years have passed since the trial, there are still many relevant legal lessons to be learned, according to James Patrick (J.P.) Barone, an assistant attorney general for Minnesota who helped organize the CLE and also acts in the performance.
“A trial is still a trial. Testimony is still under oath. Human characteristics show through to juries. In some ways it never changes on the most basic level of who do you trust?” Barone said. “As to the procedures and the safeguards of accuracy of the information, that has changed and it’s interesting to see those changes. But on a very basic level it’s still people coming forth, looking a jury in the eye, saying their peace and the jurors sorting through what is inconsistent to determine what they believe is the truth. It still works.”
Barone talks about the appeal of the John Dillinger/Billie Frechette story in this audio clip. (Runs 1:57).
“The idea of doing the slight adaptations of the script to emphasize some of the more legal issues and to actually have there be a presentation and open discussion on the legal issues immediately after the play is a new interpretation or re-imagining of what to do with the source material,” said Barone. “This will be great.”
The panel discussion for CLE credit will be led by Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice Paul H. Anderson. As well as Jennifer Hasbargen, assistant attorney general, Minnesota; Tony Palumbo, assistant Anoka County (Minn.) attorney; and Richard Stebbins, attorney, Stebbins and Hegranes. All panelists also appear in the re-creation.
Registration information is available here on West LegalEdcenter.
The course, which costs $50, provides 2.0 credits toward the general CLE requirement. As an added benefit, attendees of the live event will receive a complimentary criminal law program from Quinlan Publishing.
Members of the public who want to attend the re-creation of Billie Frechette’s trial (without earning CLE credit) may purchase tickets to either of two public performances on July 15 and July 16 at 7 p.m. Central. Space is limited, so for those performances, people should respond to Kate Thompson at 651-292-3063 or kthompson@landmarkcenter.org.
Posted by Kevin Hunt in:
Education | In Practice |
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