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Office of Defender Services
Legal, Policy and Training Division
TRAINING BRANCH
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www.fd.org |
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| TRAINING
PROGRAMS |
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| Welcome
to our training page. The programs described below are Training Branch events
designed for appointed counsel, and other professionals who assist appointed
counsel, in federal criminal cases. Registration for each of these programs
is free. The page is divided into programs for panel attorneys, programs
for federal defender staff (which are coordinated through the Federal Judicial
Center), and programs for both panel attorneys and federal defender staff.
In addition, at the bottom of the page we have included links to training
events offered by Federal Defender or Community Defender organizations,
and organizations such as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. |
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Panel
Attorney Programs
Federal Defender Programs
Combined Federal Defender Staff and Private CJA Practitioners
Programs
Death
Penalty & Habeas Programs
Training Programs Offered by Other Organizations
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| PANEL
ATTORNEY PROGRAMS |
| WINNING STRATEGIES SEMINAR |
| HISTORIC CHARLESTON, SOURTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 5-6, 2009 (TENTATIVE) |
| Contact: Karen_W_Holsendorff@ao.uscourts.gov |
| Winning Strategies offers both new and experienced panel attorneys the opportunity to attend presentations on criminal defense topics of interest in both large and small group settings. The presentations focus on the nuts and bolts of federal criminal practice including the sentencing guidelines, sentencing mitigation, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Sessions include those focusing on the impact of cases such as Crawford and Gall/Kimbrough, as well as Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment issues. In addition, participants can expect presentations on trial skills such as cross examination and developing theories and themes for trial. Other areas expected to be covered are defending child pornography cases, attacking mortgage fraud prosecutions and defending gang cases. Also included are presentations on the use of technology in the courtroom and an explanation of CJA guidelines and procedures. |
| Registration for this program will open shortly. Please check this page in the coming weeks for further information. |
| In addition to the February 5-7 Winning Strategies Seminar in Charleston, we will offer this program again in May of 2009 in Portland, Oregon. |
| SENTENCING ADVOCACY WORKSHOP |
| SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - MARCH 26-28, 2009 |
| **REGISTER HERE** |
| Contact: Karen_W_Holsendorff@ao.uscourts.gov |
| The Sentencing Advocacy Workshop focuses on an often neglected, yet extremely important, area of practice. Since approximately 95% of federal criminal cases proceed to the sentencing phase, participation in the Sentencing Advocacy Workshop should not be missed. The program presents a comprehensive approach to sentencing advocacy. Participants will learn a process for the development of a persuasive, fact-based sentencing theory and the advocacy skills necessary to advance that theory in writing and during sentencing hearings. Among other subjects, presentations and demonstrations will address changes in federal sentencing law, judging at sentencing, use of a mitigation specialist, storytelling and persuasive writing. The workshop consists of plenary sessions and small group breakout sessions. In the small group breakout sessions, participants will use a case of their own to brainstorm facts, develop a theory and theme, tell a story, and persuasively write a portion of their downward departure motion or sentencing memo.
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| Enrollment for this program is limited to 64 panel attorneys certified to accept Criminal Justice Act appointments in federal court. Early registration is encouraged. |
| LAW AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP |
| DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 30-AUGUST 1, 2009 (TENTATIVE) |
| Contact: Karen_W_Holsendorff@ao.uscourts.gov |
| The Law and Technology Workshop focuses on the use of modern technology to improve the persuasiveness of courtroom presentations. This workshop is an intensive program where participants will learn to use Trial Director and PowerPoint products to sharpen their courtroom skills. Attendees will enhance their direct-examination, cross-examination, and opening/closing argument abilities with detailed application and use of these litigation tools. Today, many federal courtrooms are “wired” to accommodate the latest computer programs, and this technology has proven to be an effective and persuasive addition to lawyers’ arsenals. Participation in the Law and Technology Workshop is particularly valuable for federal criminal defense attorneys.
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| In order to participate in this program, participants are required to provide their own laptop computers. General presentations and demonstrations are supplemented by concentrated small group workshops. In the smaller breakout groups, attendees receive hands-on guidance to apply the information presented in the plenary sessions using facts from a mock case file. Each participant will practice direct and cross-examination, and opening/closing arguments, using Trial Director and PowerPoint software.
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| Registration for this program will open shortly. Please check this page in the coming weeks for further information. |
| FEDERAL
DEFENDER PROGRAMS |
| ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR ASSISTANT FEDERAL DEFENDERS |
| SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO - NOVEMBER 17-21, 2008 |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| This annual seminar is for assistant federal defenders and research and writing lawyers who have been hired within the last year. It includes a mix of basic topics on substantive federal criminal law, trial tactics, evidence, ethics, and sentencing issues. The topics are generally presented in plenary lectures with some breakout sessions. |
| SEMINAR FOR FEDERAL DEFENDER INVESTIGATORS AND PARALEGALS |
| DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - APRIL 1-3, 2009 |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| This seminar is held annually in conjunction with the National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) for Federal Defender investigator and paralegal employees. The NDIA programming includes a “federal breakout track” to provide a variety of topics of interest to those working on federal criminal cases. Topics covered include forensic science, selected issues of federal substantive and sentencing law, crime scene investigation, interviewing techniques, and report writing. |
| NATIONAL SEMINAR FOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS |
| MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 27-29, 2009 |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| This seminar is held annually and is designed for assistant federal defenders who have been practicing criminal law a minimum of three years. It includes a mix of topics on substantive federal criminal law, trial tactics, evidence, computer technology, ethics, and sentencing issues. The topics are presented in both plenary and breakout sessions. |
| LAW AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP FOR FEDERAL DEFENDER STAFF |
| DATES AND LOCATION TBA |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| This workshop is designed for teams from federal defender offices and participants include attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and computer systems administrators. It aims to give the participating teams knowledge of the computer-based technology that is available to make a powerful trial presentation. The program also seeks to develop, from the outset of a case, a cohesive working relationship between attorneys, CSAs, investigators, and paralegals. |
| SENTENCING WORKSHOP FOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS |
| DATES AND LOCATION TBA |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| This annual national workshop brings together attorneys from offices across the country who have agreed to act as resources within their own districts. Strategies for success in advocating for just sentences for clients are the focus of discussions. There are a mix of plenary and small group sessions. |
| APPELLATE WRITING WORKSHOP FOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. - DATES TBA |
| For
more information regarding this program, including registration materials,
contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or
e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov |
| Through a mix of lectures and small group exercises, this seminar provides in-depth instruction in legal writing. Each participant writes a brief in advance of the program using a provided sample case file. A particularly valuable segment of the program is a panel discussion with U.S. Court of Appeals judges in which they provide guidance on what they find persuasive in appellate advocacy. |
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| COMBINED
FEDERAL DEFENDER STAFF AND PRIVATE CJA PRACTITIONERS PROGRAMS |
Information on our FY 2009 training programs, including the Paralegal & Investigator Skills Workshop, will be posted here shortly. |
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| TRAINING
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS |
| Financial
Assistance for Trial Skills Training
Association of Federal Defense Attorneys (AFDA)
National
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
National Criminal Defense College
(NCDC)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
(NITA)
National Legal Aid and Defender
Association (NLADA)
Western Trial Advocacy Institute
(WTAI)
National
Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) |
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| Office
of Defender Services/Training Branch, Administrative Office of the United
States Courts * One Columbus Circle, N.E. * Suite G-430 * Washington, DC
20544 Phone (202) 502-2900 * Hotline (800) 788-9908 * Fax (202) 502-2911 |
