JUSTICE FOR ALL The Life and Legacy of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson
A LionArt Media Documentary 
Co-Produced with the Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson Legacy Committee
Join us in our newest project: a feature-length documentary about the life and legacy of Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson.
With the courts taking center stage in the fight for our democracy, what can the trailblazing life of Wisconsin’s first woman justice, tell us about how to move forward in the fight for justice for all?
The film will intertwine Abrahamson’s inspirational personal story with the pivotal events that define the current trajectory of our judicial system. We explore how her legacy continues to influence the people who are fighting back against injustice and corruption, and we look to a future in which we rebuild our institutions and work toward true justice for all.
“She didn’t just shatter the glass ceiling. She also looked for ways to lift others through the gap.”
-Megan McDermott
About the Film
Shirley Abrahamson is sometimes compared to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In Abrahamson’s more than four decades on the Wisconsin Supreme Court she was:
But this film is not just a biopic. As attacks on the rule of law escalate and the judiciary becomes increasingly politicized, Justice for All offers a timely look at what it means to lead with principle. It’s a story of grit, vision, and unwavering integrity, as well as a call to action to continue Abrahamson’s mission: making the courts understandable, accountable, and truly just: for all.
"To ensure a truly just legal system, one that reflects the history and hopes of this state, there must be greater public participation in the justice system." -Shirley S. Abrahamson (1996)
Impact
WHY NOW?
Current events demonstrate the vital importance of our nation’s court system, as well as a desperate need for deeper public understanding about the way that system works. The arts and humanities have always played a key role in public education about complex topics, and we hope to use this film to address that need.
WHY US?
In 2009, Shirley Abrahamson sat down with Justice Ann Walsh Bradley to record her oral history, in which she tells the story of her life—from growing up in New York City to becoming the Chief Justice. These recordings have not yet been released to the public, but we have gained exclusive permission to use them for the film, and we will be constructing the film’s narrative around the stories and insights they contain.
IMPACT CAMPAIGN
We are planning to create a suite of resources that can be used in classrooms across Wisconsin and across the country, specifically designed to teach children about the role of judges in our society and the inner workings of the justice system.
Inspired by, and building upon Abrahamson’s educational programs such as Court with Class and Tootsie the Goldfish, these resources will include lesson plans, a viewing guide for the film, and a sequel to the Tootsie the Goldfish game.
“Each of us must work to give the majestic phrases of the constitution—due process of law, equal protection of the law—real meaning to every person. We are each called upon to perform our part in a constitutional democratic system. Each of us in our own way has a firm obligation to do whatever can be done to achieve the ultimate objective of a just and humane society.” -Shirley S. Abrahamson (1985)
Team
Justice for All is a co-production of LionArt Media and the Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson Legacy Committee.
Amy is a lawyer practicing in the areas of victim representation and civil rights in her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Her practice has focused on representation of victims of sensitive crimes and Federal Title IX.