International human rights lawyer Motley goes 'On the Issues' at Marquette Law School

September 28, 2016

MILWAUKEE — Kimberley Motley, a Marquette Law School alumna who has made international headlines through her work litigating human rights cases in Afghanistan, will be the featured guest in an upcoming "On the Issues with Mike Gousha," Thursday, Oct. 6, from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St.

Motley is the founder of Motley Legal Services and co-founder of Motley Consulting International. A 2003 Marquette Law School graduate and native of Milwaukee, Motley now spends much of her time in Afghanistan.

After working for five years in the public defender's office in Milwaukee, Motley went to Afghanistan to join a legal education program run by the U.S. State Department. Nine months later, the program ended, but Motley stayed. She established herself as the only foreigner to litigate cases in Afghanistan's criminal courts and has been involved in some of the most important human-rights cases in the post-Taliban era.

Motley's work overseas, in a conservative and male-dominated culture, has garnered national and international interest. Her Ted Talk, "How I Defend the Law," has been seen nearly 900,000 times. And she is the subject of a recently released Danish documentary called "Motley's Law," which is being shown at the Milwaukee Film Festival. Motley will share her remarkable story when she returns to Marquette Law School.

Gousha, an award-winning television journalist, is the Law School's distinguished fellow in law and public policy. His "On the Issues" series of conversations with newsmakers supports Marquette Law School's commitment to serve as a modern-day public square for the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha's "On the Issues" conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region's leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.

Public seating for the event is at capacity; registration for a waiting list is available online. Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.