The contingent of visiting fellows on campus for six weeks as part of President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders spent part of Wednesday afternoon learning about justice, where it thrives and where it is wanting.
Senior U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mark Wolf spent 90 minutes speaking on a wide range of topics before fielding questions from the 25 fellows. The visit by the judge marked the second time in less than a month he’d addressed a group of Mandela fellows; in June he spoke at the University of Virginia.
“I really wanted to be here to see you, because I think this program is extremely important,” the judge said.
Introducing Judge Wolf, Paul Jean, vice president of marketing and communications at BSU, said he “has been a person of great courage, unafraid to make decisions that weren’t always popular.”
Known for the high-profile cases he’s presided over – particularly those of James “Whitey” Bulger and former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi – as well as the lectures on public corruption and human rights he’s delivered around the world, Judge Wolf told the fellows that fighting entrenched power, especially when corruption is omnipresent, is never-ending work.
“I expect that for many of you this has been a lonely battle. That for many of you this struggle has taken great courage, and for many of you failure has become familiar,” he said.
Judge Wolf’s lecture began at the beginning, quoting John Winthrop, one of the founders of Massachusetts Bay Colony and its future governor, who famously spoke of creating “a city on the hill,” whereupon the “eyes of all people are upon us.”
“Since that day we’ve aspired to be a model of freedom and democracy,” Judge Wolf said. He then gave the fellows a brief history lesson and sketched the organization of the U.S. judicial system.
The judge spoke about the important role the International Criminal Court plays, but was quick to add that he also sees a need for an International Anti-Corruption Court. The problem in many countries is that corrupt leaders control the police and courts.
“When you have dishonest, corrupt people who control law enforcement it’s a terrible thing,” Judge Wolf said. He added that there is also a sad correlation wherein the most corrupt governments are usually the most abusive of its people.
The judge opened the floor for questions, and many of the fellows discussed situations currently plaguing their home countries.
During his talk, the judge quoted from a speech given at the University of Cape Town on June 6, 1966 by then Attorney General Robert Kennedy:
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Judge Wolf added, “I expect that you Mandela fellows will be strengthened in your determination and capacity to create a newer, better world, and from this place a ripple will go out that will combine for a very powerful effect for your country. That’s why I wanted to see you today.” (Story and photos by John Winters, G ’11, University News & Media)
