Dee Farmer, legal advocate and affirmed plaintiff, will discuss Farmer v. Brennan as part of the Nebraska Law Review’s symposium on Advancing Justice for the Federally Incarcerated at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 in McCollum Hall. The symposium continues with panel discussions on Oct. 12.

Farmer, a black transgender woman was convicted of credit card fraud and sent to U.S. Penitentiary Terra Haute and placed in the general male population, in accordance with prison policy, even though prior to her conviction she had received hormone therapy and breast implants. While in prison, she was beaten and raped by her cellmate. She sued at the federal district court level, alleging the prison failed to protect her, a protection that is guaranteed under the Eighth Amendment.

Farmer v. Brennan was heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1994. The Court ruled unanimously in favor of Farmer and allowed her to seek damages from the officials responsible for placing her in danger, and stipulated that prisoners have a right to be protected from sexual violence. The case is widely cited in cases relating to prisoners’ rights and transgender prisoners’ rights.

Farmer is a legal expert, consultant and advocate. She was the first transgender plaintiff to bring a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The presentation is part of the symposium on Advancing Justice for the Federally Incarcerated, which offers an exploration of many of the issues surrounding federal incarceration, from the pre-incarceration phase to conditions within prisons to strategies for holding state actors and systems accountable.

Information about Farmer’s keynote address and the symposium is available here.