Lawyers spend their careers reading landmark cases, interpreting constitutional principles, and advocating for justice. But some lessons cannot be learned from a casebook alone. The Iowa State Bar Association's Civil Rights Tour, taking place February 10–14, 2027, offers attorneys and judges an opportunity to experience the places where many of the nation's defining legal battles for equality unfolded—and to see how the law shaped, and was shaped by, the Civil Rights Movement.
From federal courtrooms to historic churches, museums, and memorials, each stop tells the story of individuals who challenged injustice through the legal system and those who presided over cases that changed the course of American history.
One of the tour's most distinctive experiences is a special program at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama examining the legacy of Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr., whose landmark decisions advanced voting rights, school desegregation, and equal protection under the law. Standing in the courthouse where those decisions were issued offers a perspective that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom or CLE presentation.
Participants will also visit the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute—places that provide powerful context for many of the constitutional and civil rights issues attorneys encounter today.
For newer attorneys, the experience offers an opportunity to better understand the legal profession's role in advancing justice. For experienced practitioners and judges, it provides a chance to reflect on the enduring responsibilities of the profession and the continuing importance of an independent judiciary and the rule of law.
The Civil Rights Tour also creates space for meaningful conversations among colleagues. Traveling together, participants will have opportunities to discuss history, ethics, leadership, and the profession in ways that extend beyond a traditional continuing legal education program.
Whether your practice focuses on litigation, transactional work, public service, or the judiciary, the lessons of the Civil Rights Movement continue to shape the legal system we serve today. Registration is now open, and space is limited.
Join fellow ISBA members for this unique educational experience and discover how walking through history can deepen your understanding of the law's enduring role in the pursuit of justice. Ready to learn more? Visit the ISBA website to view the itinerary and reserve your place on the February 10–14, 2027 Civil Rights Tour.
Learn more and reserve your place today
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