NPR Host

For this case, they hired two accomplished white lawyers —

Many big businesses had a keen interest in the Wong Kim Ark case. They needed labor, cheap labor, to expand and be profitable. So they jumped to support Wong Kim Ark's case.

Many big businesses had a keen interest in the Wong Kim Ark case. They needed labor, cheap labor, to expand and be profitable. So they jumped to support Wong Kim Ark's case.

Many big businesses had a keen interest in the Wong Kim Ark case. They needed labor, cheap labor, to expand and be profitable. So they jumped to support Wong Kim Ark's case.

Evarts and Ashton had argued cases before the Supreme Court before, but... I would have to think that they were pessimistic at this point. The two of them were coming off a loss in a high-profile case involving a Chinese client. Going into this case, they had every reason to doubt the outcome, an outcome that would be potentially devastating for Wong Kim Ark and thousands like him.

Evarts and Ashton had argued cases before the Supreme Court before, but... I would have to think that they were pessimistic at this point. The two of them were coming off a loss in a high-profile case involving a Chinese client. Going into this case, they had every reason to doubt the outcome, an outcome that would be potentially devastating for Wong Kim Ark and thousands like him.

Evarts and Ashton had argued cases before the Supreme Court before, but... I would have to think that they were pessimistic at this point. The two of them were coming off a loss in a high-profile case involving a Chinese client. Going into this case, they had every reason to doubt the outcome, an outcome that would be potentially devastating for Wong Kim Ark and thousands like him.

Coming up, Wong Kim Ark heads to the Supreme Court.

Coming up, Wong Kim Ark heads to the Supreme Court.

Coming up, Wong Kim Ark heads to the Supreme Court.

I'm Randa Abdel-Fattah. And you've been listening to ThruLine from NPR.

I'm Randa Abdel-Fattah. And you've been listening to ThruLine from NPR.

I'm Randa Abdel-Fattah. And you've been listening to ThruLine from NPR.

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And me. And.

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Casey Minor. Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Casey Minor. Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Casey Minor. Fact-checking for this episode was done by Kevin Vogel.

Special thanks to Sandra Wong and Julie Su.