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.
The film will intertwine Abrahamson’s inspirational personal story with the pivotal historical events that define the current trajectory of our judicial system. Justice for All invites viewers to learn about, engage with, and become participants in the work of building and maintaining an independent judiciary and a more informed, equitable, and just society.
“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:
By the time she retired, 6 of the 7 Wisconsin Supreme Court justices were women—the most in the nation. She inspired hundreds to become lawyers, judges, and public servants. But judicial elections were becoming increasingly partisan, shattering spending records, and Abrahamson had been ousted from the chief justice position that she had held for nearly two decades.
The film goes beyond the conventional biographical format, seamlessly blending Abrahamson’s inspirational personal story with the broader tale of the judiciary’s evolution. Linking past and present, the film will serve as a call to action as well as a powerful tribute to a woman whose influence extended far beyond the courtroom.
"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.
"I may be the first woman justice, but I'm clearly not the last." -Shirley S. Abrahamson (1976)
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. Budget
We are currently in the process of raising funds from a variety of different sources to enable the production of this film, including foundations and grants as well as private donors. Justice for All is supported, in part, by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
SECURED
- $150,000 in prior donations*
- $65,000 in private donations
- $10,000 Major Grant from Wisconsin Humanities
*These donations have funded past Committee projects, including this website, which have laid the foundation for, but which are not directly related to the production of this film.
APPLIED
- $25,000 grant from the Miller / Packan Film Fund
NEEDED
- $480,000
