Scott Turow and Judge Richard Posner talk about the future of books, authors, and libraries in the digital age for “Conversations at the Newberry,” a new series of discussions to generate thought-provoking discourse for and frame important questions about enduring issues that are timely today. Each evening features a pair of authors speaking about topics on which they have expertise and with which they are enthusiastically engaged, followed by give and take with the audience.

An attorney and author of nine best-selling works of fiction, Scott Turow has written numerous op-ed pieces and conducted interviews about the future of libraries and the digitization of books. His works of nonfiction include One L (1977) about his experience as a law student, and Ultimate Punishment (2003), a reflection on the death penalty. Turow’s books have won several literary awards, including the 2004 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. Turow is a partner at SNR Denton (formerly Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal) where he concentrates on white-collar criminal defense and devotes a large amount of his time to pro bono matters. Before joining the firm Turow was an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago.

Judge Richard A. Posner has been called “the most influential jurist outside the Supreme Court,” (The New York Times, July 14, 2011). Named to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in 1981 and Chief Judge from 1993 to 2000, Judge Posner has written more than 2,500 published judicial opinions and 30 books. His academic work has covered a broad range, with particular emphasis on the application of economics to law. His current research includes work on evidence, intellectual property, citations analysis, the public intellectual, antitrust, and jurisprudence and moral theory. Prior to being named to the federal bench, Judge Posner was a professor of law at the University of Chicago Law School, where he continues to teach part-time as a senior lecturer.

Recorded Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at The Newberry Library.