Carolina Law Students Walk in History’s Footsteps at Heart Mountain

What does it mean to be an ethical lawyer? Eight Carolina Law students explored this fundamental question in a powerful new setting this fall – at the site where World War II-era attorneys helped implement and defend the unjust imprisonment of Japanese Americans. 

Against the backdrop of northwest Wyoming’s stark landscape, where temperatures swung dramatically and barren plains stretched endlessly toward the horizon, students immersed themselves in the complex history at Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. 2L Daniel Sullivan reflected on the disorienting nature of the setting, imagining Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their West Coast homes, shuttled by train with blinds drawn, only to arrive at what would become Wyoming’s third-largest city: a concentration camp in the middle of nowhere. 

The new “Lawyers in Justice and Lawyers’ Injustice” seminar, led by Eric Muller, Dan K. Moore Distinguished Professor of Law in Jurisprudence and Ethics, during fall break, transformed this historical site into a unique classroom. Students spent their mornings analyzing government documents and court cases, while afternoons were dedicated to exploring the museum’s exhibits and original structures. In the restored barracks and historic root cellar, the reality of what government lawyers helped implement became tangible. 

The experience went beyond traditional historical study. A museum staff member who is Crow/Apsáalooke shared the region’s indigenous history, while an evening shakuhachi flute performance added cultural depth to the students’ understanding. For 2L Carley Cook, the moments in the restored barracks, hearing about the land’s long history, brought unexpected resonance to their studies of justice and community in American law. 

The impact of place-based learning proved powerful. 3L Zi Zhou found that walking the grounds where imprisoned Japanese Americans once lived transformed abstract legal cases into human reality. The physical presence of the camp’s remains highlighted the profound responsibility lawyers hold in society and the real-world consequences of their choices. 

Evening reflection sessions allowed students to process their discoveries and connect historical insights to modern legal practice. “The trip offered a unique opportunity to slow down and reflect amid the often-hectic law school experience,” Cook noted.  Muller, who led the curation of the center’s core historical exhibit, guided these discussions about professional identity and responsibility. 

For 3L Jessica di Lustro and her classmates, the seminar transcended traditional legal education. 3L Lance Rybka echoed this sentiment, calling it “one of the most impactful parts of my law school experience.” Standing where history happened, they confronted questions that will shape their future careers: How do lawyers maintain their ethical compass when systems go wrong? What responsibility do they bear to society? What kind of attorneys do they want to become? 

As the group departed Heart Mountain, they carried with them more than academic insights about legal ethics. They gained a profound understanding of their profession’s power to either uphold or betray justice – lessons learned not just from textbooks, but from the very ground where lawyers once made decisions that forever altered American lives. It’s an experience that promises to influence not only their careers but also their fundamental approach to practicing law with conscience and integrity.