Lawyer to share experiences representing Guantánamo detainees

Jeff Colman, a 1970 history graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, will visit campus Monday, March 9, and give a free public talk about his experience representing prisoners held at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.

Colman will discuss “Guantánamo and The Rule of Law” with a question-and-answer session hosted by the College of Letters and Science, the Law School and the Frank J. Remington Center.

Colman, who is a partner at Jenner & Block in Chicago, has visited Guantánamo 10 times in the last three years. In total, Jenner & Block has represented 19 men, 13 of whom have been released in the past two years — all after spending more than four years imprisoned at Guantánamo.

Colman has personally been responsible for the representation of four of the 19 men, and three of Colman’s four clients have been released. Colman is forthright about his experience at Guantánamo and has given similar talks at several universities and colleges nationwide.

With 35 years of legal experience, Colman’s career has focused on complex civil and criminal litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. He has served as lead counsel for large and small corporations, law firms and individuals. He has extensive experience in a variety of litigation including attorney malpractice, class actions, products liability, securities fraud, antitrust, civil rights, general commercial litigation and white-collar criminal litigation. Colman has also argued appeals in many reviewing courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Colman’s talk will take place from noon-1:30 p.m. March 9 in the Lubar Commons, Room 7200, at the UW Law School, 975 Bascom Mall. The event is free and lunch is available to all who attend. Seating is limited.