Bruce S. Rosen Reflects: From Covering Bob Dylan’s Historic Prison Concert as a Reporter to Advancing Justice as an Attorney
Bruce S. Rosen, partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., authored an article, “Remembering Dylan’s Prison Stop Dec. 7, 1975,” published in Flagging Down the Double E’s newsletter. In the article, Rosen shares details and photos of this historic concert, as well as his remarkable journey.
On December 7, 1975, as a 22-year-old music journalist, Rosen covered Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue prison concert for Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. Joining Dylan for the prison concert were Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Robbie Robertson, Allen Ginsberg, Roger McGuinn, and Roberta Flack.
A decade later, Rosen’s journey came full circle when, as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin, he helped draft the landmark opinion that overturned Carter’s conviction. That decision, rooted in constitutional principles and a stand against racial bias, ultimately freed Carter after 17 years in prison. Today, Rosen is a renowned First Amendment lawyer and commercial litigator, but his role in one of the most celebrated cases of justice reform remains one of his defining achievements.
Rosen’s First Amendment practice extends to issues related to shield law protection, access to public information, web defamation, workplace privacy, data theft, and appropriation of image. He was a vociferous advocate for the New Jersey’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law and since its enactment in 2023 he has been actively involved in the practice and has won numerous cases now working their way through the appeals process.
Rosen is nationally recognized for his work defending news organizations such as newspapers, online entities, television networks, and other media outlets as well as individuals against claims by public figures and individuals. He has appeared in important cases before appeals courts as amicus curiae (friends of the court) on behalf of media organizations and is often asked to provide expert opinions regarding First Amendment issues.
Read the full article here A Legal Journalist Remembers Covering Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Prison Show—And Helping Set 'Hurricane' Free.
