ACTEC Releases Video Protecting Civil Liberties in America: Korematsu v. United States

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC – August 1, 2022: The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) today released its video, Protecting Civil Liberties in America: Korematsu v. United States. The video is the College’s 21st in its monthly informational series Planning for a Diverse and Equitable Future, a project of ACTEC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity Committee, funded by The ACTEC Foundation.

In 1942, at the height of World War II, Fred Korematsu, a 23-year-old Japanese-American citizen living in California, disobeyed the executive order for Japanese-Americans to report to internment camps because he felt it violated his Fifth Amendment right to due process and his civil liberties. He was arrested, convicted, and appealed his case. Korematsu v. United States was heard by the Supreme Court, where he lost in 1944. Mr. Korematsu’s conviction was overturned by a federal judge in 1983, however, the Supreme Court decision still stands today. In the video, ACTEC Fellow Hung V. Nguyen interviews Dr. Karen Korematsu, daughter of Fred Korematsu, to provide an overview of her father’s story, the Supreme Court decision, and its relevance to protecting civil liberties in modern society.

For further information about the Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity series, please visit actec.org/diversity.

About The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Established in 1949, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a national, nonprofit association of approximately 2,400 lawyers and law professors from throughout the United States and abroad. ACTEC members (Fellows) are peer-elected on the basis of professional reputation and expertise in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, probate, trust administration, and related practice areas. The College’s mission includes the improvement and reform of probate, trust and tax laws and procedures, and professional practice standards. ACTEC frequently offers technical comments with regard to legislation and regulations but does not take positions on matters of policy or political objectives.

About The ACTEC Foundation: The ACTEC Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel or ACTEC. The Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) that offers education to families and professionals and supports students interested in the trust and estate area of the law. Through continued financial support, The ACTEC Foundation offers professional development, scholarships and education for a number of important efforts, including legal education, educational support, public initiatives, legal publications and the student editorial board.

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