The American Film Festival has released its list of the top heroes and villains in movies. "The 100 heroes and villains were chosen from 400 character nominees on ballots sent to 1,500 actors, directors, critics and others in the movie business."

So who's the number one hero? Criminal defense lawyer Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird."

"I think Atticus Finch just represents the goodness all of us want to see in others and feel in ourselves," said Jean Picker Firstenburg, the institute's director. "This is a hard time in human history, and we look for the bright spots that show us the way."

[link via Kate Jones and Dan Dodson, Indigent Defense Director and Media Affairs Director, respectively, of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL.)

Speaking of NACDL, we'll be at an NACDL Executive Committee retreat starting tomorrow, through the weekend--we will be posting, but probably mostly mornings and nights instead of throughout the day.