Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series to Discuss Japanese American Incarceration and Heart Mountain

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Dec. 1, 2025 –  The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series, in partnership with the Laramie County Library, presents author Eric L. Muller discussing his book Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

 

During World War II, the U.S. government forcibly relocated over 110,000 Japanese Americans to incarceration camps, including Wyoming's Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Park County. At each camp, the government assigned white lawyers with a contradictory mandate: provide legal counsel to prisoners while keeping operations running smoothly.

 

In Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe, Professor Muller examines how three of these lawyers—who believed they were helping prisoners—ultimately became complicit in perpetrating racial injustice. Through archival evidence and compelling narrative, Muller reveals how well-intentioned individuals contributed to a system that stripped people of freedom and dignity.

 

Muller is the Dan K. Moore Distinguished Professor of Law in Jurisprudence and Ethics at the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Attendance Options:

 

  • In Person: This event will be held in the Wyoming State Capitol Extension Auditorium, located underground and connecting the State Capitol and the Hershler Building. The physical address of the State Capitol is 200 W. 24th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002. 
  • Virtual: Register at eventbrite.com/o/wyoming-state-archives-49902991693

Virtual and in-person attendees are encouraged to ask questions during the presentation. This event is free and open to the public.

The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series hosts presentations on the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., offering both in-person and virtual attendance options. For the complete events calendar and upcoming topics, visit wyoarchives.wyo.gov/index.php/about-archives/events.
 
The Wyoming State Archives collects, manages, and preserves Wyoming state public records with long-term administrative, legal, and historical value. These records document our state's history and the activities of Wyoming Government offices. The Archives also acquires non-government records that enhance understanding of Wyoming's rich heritage.
 
For more information or special assistance requests, contact Sara Davis, Wyoming State Archivist, or learn more at wyoarchives.wyo.gov. The Wyoming State Archives is fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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Figure 1:  The Wyoming State Archives Speaker Series presents author Eric L. Muller discussing his book Lawyer, Jailer, Ally, Foe on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.
 

Contact: Sara Davis, (307) 777-7826; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.