About the Symposium
The Coram Nobis cases of the 1980s—Hirabayashi v. United States, Korematsu v. United States, and Yasui v. United States—vacated the wartime convictions of Japanese Americans who resisted unjust government orders during WWII. In doing so, they effectively overturned earlier Supreme Court rulings that had upheld those convictions. These cases exposed government misconduct, including the suppression of key evidence, and demonstrated how fear and prejudice can override constitutional protections.
Their relevance today lies in the reminder that civil liberties are most vulnerable in times of perceived crisis. As new calls arise for surveillance, detention, and restrictions targeting immigrant or minority communities, the Coram Nobis victories highlight the importance of vigilance, accountability, and the rule of law. In short: constitutional rights do not enforce themselves—citizens, lawyers, and communities must fight to uphold them.
At the heart of this symposium is that spirit of research, persistence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice. The Coram Nobis cases demonstrate how ordinary citizens, supported by dedicated attorneys and community advocates, uncovered suppressed evidence, challenged false narratives, and overturned historic wrongs—reminding us that safeguarding civil liberties requires vigilance and courage in every generation.
What to Expect
The Symposium will be held at the waterfront in the Stan Pocock Legacy Rowing Center, just an 8-minute walk from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. program.
To enrich your experience, we encourage you to view the one-hour documentary Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066 prior to attending. A free community screening will be offered on Bainbridge Island (date and location to be announced). The film is also available for streaming on PBS.org for a limited time.
We are honored to welcome Lorraine Bannai, Kathryn Bannai, and Peggy Nagae, three attorneys who personally worked on the Coram Nobis cases of Fred Korematsu, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Minoru Yasui. Each will share reflections on their groundbreaking legal battles, followed by a moderated discussion connecting those cases to the constitutional challenges we face today.
The program will conclude with a community dialogue, inviting questions and conversation between the audience and the attorneys. Together, we will reflect not only on the lessons of history, but also on the responsibilities we share to defend civil liberties now and for the future.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the presenters over appetizers and drinks afterward.
Who Should Attend
This symposium is for anyone concerned about today’s civil liberties challenges and eager to learn how the historic Coram Nobis legal victories can inform our response to current events, including:
- Community members
- Civic leaders
- Legal professionals
- Educators
- Students
Program Schedule
Doors Open (1:30 p.m.)
Pocock Rowing Center, Bainbridge Island
Opening Remarks & Introductions
Presentation of the Coram Nobis Cases
- Lorraine Bannai — Overview & the Fred Korematsu Coram Nobis Case
- Kathryn Bannai — The Gordon Hirabayashi Coram Nobis Case
- Peggy Nagae — The Minoru Yasui Coram Nobis Case
Panel Discussion
Moderated by James Hattori
Audience Q&A
Closing Remarks
Reception: Meet & Greet the Speakers
Enjoy appetizers and refreshments
Featured Speakers
Kathryn Bannai
Kathryn Bannai served as lead counsel in Gordon Hirabayashi’s coram nobis case (1982–1985), successfully defeating the government’s effort to dismiss the case and persuading the court to hold an evidentiary hearing. That hearing ultimately led to overturning Hirabayashi’s wartime convictions under Executive Order 9066.
In addition to her legal work, Kathryn has adjudicated cases for the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal and Seattle’s Public Safety Civil Service Commission, and she has held leadership roles with the Japanese American Citizens League (Seattle and New York chapters), Eastern Washington University, Little Tokyo Community Council, and Kizuna. She also co-chaired the successful effort to secure posthumous recognition of Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi with the Presidential Citizens Medal, awarded at the White House in 2025.
Kathryn is currently a trustee of the Japanese American National Museum and continues to be active in education and community advocacy. She received her law degree from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings).
Lorraine Bannai
Lorraine K. Bannai is Professor Emerita and Director Emerita of the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at Seattle University School of Law. After earning her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, she joined what is now the San Francisco law firm of Minami Tamaki. While there, she served on the legal team that successfully challenged the infamous Korematsu v. United States decision, which had upheld the forced mass removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.
In her 25-year teaching career, Lorraine wrote and spoke widely on the incarceration’s present-day relevance, the dangers of prejudice, and the importance of upholding the rule of law. She has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and co-authored numerous amicus briefs in civil rights cases across the country, including Hedges v. Obama (challenging the NDAA detention provisions) and Trump v. Hawaii (challenging the Muslim travel ban).
Her books include Race, Rights, and National Security: Law and the Japanese American Incarceration and Enduring Conviction: Fred Korematsu and His Quest for Justice. She has also served on numerous civil rights and community boards, including the Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW); the ACLU; the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL); and the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission.
Peggy Nagae
Peggy Nagae served as lead attorney in reopening Minoru Yasui v. United States, one of the three coram nobis cases that successfully overturned wartime Supreme Court convictions of Japanese Americans who resisted exclusion. A Sansei whose family was incarcerated during WWII, Peggy has dedicated her career to advancing justice, equity, and inclusion.
She was the first woman president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, served on the JACL National Redress Committee that helped secure passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, and was appointed by President Clinton to the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund Board. More recently, she co-chaired the effort to honor Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi with the Presidential Citizens Medal, awarded posthumously at the White House in 2025.
In addition to her legal work, Peggy has been a leader in numerous civil rights and community organizations, co-founded AAPI Winning Together, and received the American Bar Association’s Spirit of Excellence Award. She continues to write, speak, and consult nationally on building a multiracial, inclusive democracy.
James Hattori
James Hattori is a veteran journalist whose career spanned local television news in San Diego, Spokane, Seattle, Houston, and San Francisco, and later correspondent posts for CBS News, CNN, and NBC News in Dallas, Tokyo, New York, and Atlanta.
Over the course of his career, he covered a wide range of stories—from space launches and hurricanes to terrorism, tsunamis, technology, and the Iraq war. At 60 Minutes, he profiled the Aum Shinrikyo cult behind the Tokyo subway gas attack. He was also nominated for an Emmy award for live coverage of an Iraqi truck bombing in Baghdad.
James recalls some of his fondest moments at KING-TV in Seattle, especially covering Seafair and taking floatplanes from Lake Union. His mother and family were incarcerated at Tule Lake during World War II. Now retired, he lives in San Francisco.
Partners
We are grateful for the support of partners who help make this symposium possible:
