North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (NMRLS) will host the Historic Litigation Conference  Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Robert C. Khayat Law Building of the University of Mississippi School of Law.

The conference is the second of three special events slated to commemorate NMRLS’s 50th Anniversary Celebration of service to 39 counties in north Mississippi.

The conference will bring together some of the state’s most noted community leaders, government officials, attorneys and others to discuss litigation which spanned five decades and made a positive difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Mississippians. Included in the discussion will be the famous Ayers Case, which originated at NMRLS and spanned nearly 30 years.

Guest speakers include the Honorable Ronnie Musgrove, Judge Catherine Farris-Carter, Judge Denise Owens, attorneys Michael Trister, Solomon Osborne, Alvin O. Chambliss Jr., Ruby White and Karen Peairs. Other speakers include Ole Miss Law School Dean Deborah H. Bell, Ledell and Lenard Robinson, Mary Gordon and Roy Campbell.

“The 1960s marked the beginning of our commitment to providing legal aid to the underprivileged. Our mission was to provide legal and technical assistance to improve the daily life of those in need, while contributing to their attainment of legal equality, said Ben T. Cole II, executive director of NMRLS.

“Now, 50 years later, he added, “The needs in Mississippi are even greater.  That is why we continue on this quest for justice,” he concluded.

Helping residents

NMRLS’s goal is to provide attorney representation and advocacy for the most vulnerable members of society. Examples of its work include preserving and retaining habitable and affordable housing for families; protecting children and families in matters of safety and health; promoting economic security and financial independence of families; and helping the disabled, vulnerable and elderly maintain autonomy and dignity.

The event is free and open to the public. CLE credit is available for attorneys.  For a complete schedule of events and to register, visit www.nmrls.com/nmrls or the NMRLS homepage: www.nmrls.com. To RSVP, call 662-234-8731, ext. 2122 or email: cgfreeman@nmrls.com.