Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The Fight for Justice: Perry Mason and Erle Stanley Gardner
Speaker
Kim Keeline, Ph.D.
Coordinator
Mark Stadler
Erle Stanley Gardner was a lawyer and prolific fiction
author. His most famous creation was Perry Mason,
the defense attorney who never loses. The books
(and subsequent incarnations on radio, television
and film) all show Gardner’s concerns about the legal
system. He also demonstrated this concern with his
fight for actual justice on his “Court of Last Resort,”
where he helped the wrongfully convicted get
new trials.
author. His most famous creation was Perry Mason,
the defense attorney who never loses. The books
(and subsequent incarnations on radio, television
and film) all show Gardner’s concerns about the legal
system. He also demonstrated this concern with his
fight for actual justice on his “Court of Last Resort,”
where he helped the wrongfully convicted get
new trials.
Speaker Bio
Presenter: Kim Keeline is a scholar of
Shakespeare’s plays who now writes mysteries.
When she isn’t driving a 1907 Baldwin Steam
Locomotive at Old Poway Park she is active
in the mystery community, including chairing
Bouchercon 2023, the international mystery
convention. She has six short stories published
so far and is working on her novel. Her interest in
mysteries started with Nancy Drew, but now she
reads widely and lectures on the history
of mysteries.
Shakespeare’s plays who now writes mysteries.
When she isn’t driving a 1907 Baldwin Steam
Locomotive at Old Poway Park she is active
in the mystery community, including chairing
Bouchercon 2023, the international mystery
convention. She has six short stories published
so far and is working on her novel. Her interest in
mysteries started with Nancy Drew, but now she
reads widely and lectures on the history
of mysteries.
10