The Faith & Politics Institute
2024 Civil Rights Pilgrimage

March 2024

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute hosted the Faith & Politics Institute in America’s Courtroom, the historic courtroom of Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr., during its 2024 Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama. Approximately 175 visitors from Washington, DC, including Members of Congress,  filled the courtroom for the morning program that celebrated the history of several historic cases that changed the nation—paying homage to Judge Johnson's profound impact on American History, civil rights, and the events that took place in the courtroom.

Theater artists from Alabama State University performed a modified version of "Faces of a King," which is based heavily on court transcripts. The program offered insight into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggles for justice with poignant excerpts from testimony by a young John Lewis given in that courtroom during Williams v. Wallace, the case of the Selma March, in 1965. The Johnson Institute first commissioned Faces of a King to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January of this year.

Eleventh Circuit Judge Joel F. Dubina then reflected on the landmark case of Williams v. Wallace, providing valuable legal insights and highlighting Judge Johnson's role, while sharing his memories of the Selma March.

Chief U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks presided over the event, and Johnson Institute Board of Directors Co-Chair Debbie Long articulated the mission of the Johnson Institute, emphasizing its commitment to Constitutional and civics education.