Jim Harbaugh has never been one to stick to sports, and while that has occasionally gotten him into trouble, he has shown far more empathy and open-mindedness than most people in the public eye.
Recently, Harbaugh’s public activism has focused on legal defense for those who can’t afford it. He criticized the Trump administration for its attempt to cut funding for the Legal Services Corporation, which provides legal services to low-income Americans, and he visited Washington, DC, to testify to Congress about the organization’s importance.
Now, Harbaugh is continuing his offseason in the legal field, this time as a law clerk. ESPN has the story of Harbaugh’s day with a judge in Flint, Michigan.
For four hours, Harbaugh performed clerical duties while the probate court mowed through a full slate of restraining order requests, divorce filings and child support claims. These aren’t the type of legal proceedings that inspire silver-screen courtroom dramas or even an episode of the coach’s beloved “Judge Judy” television show. He listened intently to each one, taking notes on a yellow legal pad and asking the judge follow-up questions when court adjourned for the day.
“It’s really important,” Harbaugh said. “It should be important to all of us. … There was a time when I would say I support no cause foreign or domestic other than the greatness of Michigan football.”
That time is in the past. Between his growing interest in fair access to legal help, and the evolving views on social justice and protesting that he laid out in a Time article about Colin Kaepernick this spring, Harbaugh has invested time in understanding issues beyond football that are important to him.
No word on whether Harbaugh will get to clerk for his idol, Judge Judy, but good for him for continuing to be active outside of football and for learning about other people’s experiences.
[ESPN, pic via Dan Murphy]
