On Wednesday, June 21st, the Law Library of Congress was pleased to host a mock appeal for the Shakespearean character, Shylock, from the Merchant of Venice. Our distinguished panel of judges included United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Associate Dean for International Affairs and Professor of Law at Wake Forest University School of Law Professor Richard Schneider; Representative and Ambassador Connie Morella; Dean of Wake Forest University School of Law Suzanne Reynolds; and an Italian lawyer, who is working for the European Parliamentary Research Service, Micaela DelMonte. Michael Klotz, an associate attorney in the New York office of Jones Day, argued Shylock’s appeal; Teresa Miguel-Stearns, the Law Librarian and Professor of Law at Yale’s Lillian Goldman Law Library, represented Portia; and Eugene D. Gulland, a partner in the Washington-based law firm of Covington & Burling, represented Antonio.
Elizabeth Pugh, the General Counsel for the Library of Congress, opened the event with a quote from Portia on the quality of mercy. Elizabeth mentioned that this event was the last in a series of three Library of Congress events commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice. This event was the second time a mock appeal for Shylock has been staged. The first staged production was held last year in Venice.