Getting Away with M**der: OJ Simpson, Kyle Rittenhouse, and Lizzie Borden

Welcome to Binge Thinking! We host professors at local pubs to give talks on fascinating topics.

Topic: Getting Away with M**der: Lizzie Borden, O.J. Simpson, and Kyle Rittenhouse
Speaker: Stephanie Jirard, JD (Suffolk University, Political Science & Legal Studies)

Why do some homicide cases become cultural flashpoints while others fade into history?

From the 1892 Lizzie Borden trial to the acquittals of O.J. Simpson and Kyle Rittenhouse, certain courtroom battles capture the attention of the entire country and force Americans to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, race, media, politics, and power.

In this talk, Professor Stephanie Jirard examines three infamous homicide trials and the legal, cultural, and political forces behind their acquittals. Along the way, she’ll explore how public opinion shapes trials, how media coverage influences juries and narratives, and why claims like self-defense can become deeply politicized.

The lecture asks bigger questions too:

What makes a defendant sympathetic to a jury?
How do race, celebrity, and politics affect perceptions of guilt?
And what do these cases reveal about the American legal system—and America itself?

Stephanie Jirard, JD, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science & Legal Studies at Suffolk University. A legal scholar, practitioner, and award-winning educator, her work focuses on media representations of law and justice, race and juvenile justice, and the death penalty. Her career spans roles as a trial attorney, federal prosecutor, public defender, and lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. She is a member of the Massachusetts Bar, Louisiana Bar, and U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Before joining Suffolk, she received the 2025 Blue Flame Award for Sustained Inspirational Teaching at Shippensburg University. Professor Jirard earned her AB from Cornell University, her MA in Applied History from Shippensburg University, and her JD from Boston College Law School.

🕒 Agenda
7:30 PM – Doors open: find a seat and order some drinks
8:00 PM – Lecture begins
8:45 PM – Audience Q&A
9:00–9:30 PM – Mingle with the speaker and other guests

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