Unexpected Justice: the Rise of John Paul Stevens

In the spring of 1969, a corruption scandal rocked the Illinois Supreme Court. The investigation that followed was supposed to be a whitewash, not to mention career suicide for the courtly, bow-tied Chicago lawyer who led it. But what happened was exactly the opposite.

Unexpected Justice: The Rise of John Paul Stevens tells the surprising story of the case that thrust John Paul Stevens into the public eye, and in the process, launched him on the path to the United States Supreme Court. Narrated by Peter Coyote, the film explores this fascinating chapter of Chicago’s scandal-rich history, and features the unforgettable character whose allegations started it all—an irascible citizen gadfly named Sherman Skolnick.

Based on the book Illinois Justice: The Scandal of 1969 and the Rise of John Paul Stevens, by Kenneth A. Manaster (University of Chicago Press)