Please be advised that registration for all Training Division Events is limited to persons who provide services pursuant to the Federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA). For more information please read our Training Events Registration Disclaimer.
If you have any questions about registering, please emailus.
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Race Webinar: Reducing Implicit Bias for Latinx Clients
How To Reduce Implicit Bias For Latinx Clients Through The Use of Narrative, Culture, And Individuation
Presented by Walter Gonçalves, Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ
This recorded presentation will provide lawyers with strategies to reduce the negative impact of implicit bias on clients. Although the focus will be on crimes that mainly affect Latino defendants, the tactics and strategies described apply to any minority defendant (African-American, Middle Eastern, Asian, Native American) facing most criminal charges. The presentation will cover the impact of implicit bias on Latino criminal defendants that a rise mainly from historic and contemporary media depictions of Latinos. Areas covered will include client interviewing and consulting, pre -trial motion practice, voir dire, jury instructions, use of experts, sentencing, and other trial and pre -trial subjects. The general theme is that implicit bias can be reduced through the use of narrative, culture, and individuation.
To view the webinar and materials, please click log in to www.fd.org and click here.
Please plan to attend the Race Conference in the future to see this and other wonderful presentations live.
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TECHNIQUES IN ELECTRONIC CASE MANAGEMENT
In the digital era, knowledge about managing, reviewing, and analyzing electronic discovery or voluminous discovery is a critical skill for criminal defense attorneys. In fact, the first principle of the national joint electronic discovery protocol developed by representatives of the Department of Justice, Federal Public Defenders, CJA panel attorneys, and the Defender Services Office reflects this trend in the law: “[l]awyers have a responsibility to have an adequate understanding of electronic discovery.” (See ESI Protocol) This is a position that the ABA has adopted. See Commentary to Model Rule of Professional Responsibility 1.1.
The Law & Technology Series: Techniques in Electronic Case Management (TECM) Workshop exposes CJA panel attorneys and FDO staff to the legal, strategic, and technological considerations involved with electronic and/or voluminous discovery. This two-and-a-half-day program uses a combination of plenary presentations and small group, hands-on instruction. Besides gaining an understanding of the legal, practical, and technological considerations in these types of federal criminal cases, participants will learn basic and advanced features of three litigation support software programs (Adobe Acrobat Pro, dtSearch, and CaseMap/TimeMap suite). Attendees will better understand how legal litigation support programs work, and how to coordinate thoughtful workflow processes with co-counsel, staff, and potential vendors. They will also improve their overall ability to master case information, in order to better prepare a defense.
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The Andrea Taylor Sentencing Advocacy Workshop
The Andrea Taylor Sentencing Advocacy Workshop focuses on a vital area of federal practice that has evolved since the Supreme Court declared the federal sentencing guidelines were advisory and no longer mandatory. Since approximately 97% of federal criminal cases continue to the sentencing phase, participation in the Sentencing Advocacy Workshop should not be missed. The Sentencing Advocacy Workshop teaches a comprehensive approach to sentencing where participants are trained to develop persuasive, fact-based, sentencing theories, and are provided with the advocacy skills necessary to advance their theories both in writing and during sentencing hearings. Presentations and demonstrations at the workshop include client relations and interviewing for mitigation, fact busting, developing persuasive theories and themes, storytelling at sentencing, persuasive writing, and persuasive presentation. The workshop consists of plenary sessions and small group breakout sessions. In the small group sessions, participants will use pending cases of their own to bust the facts, develop theories and themes, practice storytelling, persuasively write part of their sentencing memorandums and discuss how best to conduct sentencing hearings.
Enrollment for this program is limited to 65 participants – priority will be given to those people who have not attended this workshop in the past. Limited financial assistance may be available to non-federal defender registrants for travel expenses.
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Trial Skills Workshop I: Advocacy Strategies & Skills to Maximize the Use of Experts
Trial Skills Workshop I (TSW 1) is our newest skills training. The first iteration of TSW will focus on the use of experts for trials and evidentiary hearings. This presentation of the program is an excellent opportunity for attorneys to learn about the value of experts to (a) help them understand complex areas which impact representation of clients and (b) develop their courtroom skills, when either presenting expert testimony in their cases or cross examining government experts. Participants will learn from an experienced and highly skilled faculty in both plenary and small-group sessions. During the small-group sessions, participants will practice those skills and receive feedback. Areas covered include: (1) identifying and screening experts to support the theory of the case, with practice sessions on screening, interviewing, records collection and qualifying the experts to testify; (2) using the Federal Rules of Evidence to make sure that experts are qualified and the reports and documents that further the defense theory are admitted into the record; and (3) cross examining the government’s expert witness.
Attendance at this program is limited and requires an application. Once accepted, applicants will be moved from the waitlist to accepted status and will be notified promptly.
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FEDERAL DEFENDER INVESTIGATOR AND PARALEGAL SEMINAR
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN SOON.
This two-and-a-half-day program will cover a wide range of criminal defense topics specifically targeted toward investigators and paralegals, who work at the federal level. A mix of plenary and concurrent breakout sessions will include presentations on areas such as sentencing mitigation, mental health, document management and analysis, online investigation, BOP issues, and offense-specific tips for building a defense in a variety of federal cases. Topics might be of interest to mitigation specialists and social workers as well. In addition, the seminar will include an interpreter track, with topics of interest to those who perform interpreter duties in their offices, as well as paralegals and investigators who work with interpreters.