To Kill a Mockingbird + Panel Conversation on Justice Storytelling (PG)

Join us for a special afternoon exploring the power of storytelling in shaping our understanding of justice; with a panel discussion followed by a screening of the timeless classic To Kill a Mockingbird.

Hosted in partnership with the Attorney General’s Office Rule of Law team, this event brings together leading voices from law and film for an intimate conversation about how film narratives can influence public perceptions of fairness, truth and the justice system.

The Attorney General, Richard Hermer KC will be joined by Kevin Wong (Director of Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival) and Laura Suggitt (Founder of the Merrittocracy and Director of Bang Up Books), in reflecting on the responsibilities of storytellers, the cultural legacy of courtroom dramas, and what canonical films like To Kill a Mockingbird continue to teach us about ethics, empathy and civic values.

Following the discussion, stay for a screening of To Kill a Mockingbird - a defining work of American cinema directed by Robert Mulligan and a touchstone for debates about justice, integrity and the rule of law.

Laura Suggitt is the Founder and Managing Director of The Merrittocracy, a social justice agency working across government, charities and the cultural sector to drive change on some of the UK’s most pressing justice issues, including criminal justice reform, violence against women and girls, and access to education. Her work centres on how culture, narrative and creative practice can shape public understanding of justice and influence real world systems change. Alongside this, Laura is Director of Bang Up Books, a nationally recognised initiative that has delivered more than 100,000 books into prisons across England and Wales, championing the role of storytelling, literacy and culture in rehabilitation, dignity and access to justice. With a background in criminology and extensive experience spanning policy, prisons and cultural interventions, Laura brings a unique perspective on how stories — on page, screen and stage — shape our moral imaginations and ideas of fairness, power and accountability.

Kevin Wong is the founder and director of the Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival, an annual event that brings together filmmakers, legal professionals, academics and communities to explore how film shapes public understanding of crime, punishment and justice. The festival is dedicated to using storytelling as a space for critical reflection on fairness, power and the lived realities of the justice system. Alongside this, Kevin is Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director for Criminal Justice at the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU), Manchester Metropolitan University. He has over 25 years’ experience across criminal justice research, policy and practice, with particular expertise in probation, community justice and the role of the voluntary sector. Kevin also has a longstanding background as a writer for radio, film and theatre, including commissioned work for BBC Radio and a period as Writer in Residence at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.

Bea Brown, Head of the Rule of Law Unit, will chair the discussion.