19 - 21
Race in the Federal Criminal Court: Strategies in Pursuit of Justice
Race in the Federal Criminal Court: Strategies in Pursuit of Justice is designed to educate attorneys appointed pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act about the many ways race impacts the administration of justice in federal court and provide them with strategies to combat racial injustice in the criminal justice system. Areas to be addressed include implicit bias, jury selection and Batson challenges, and racial disparities in charging, pleas, and sentencing. In addition, sessions devoted to the use of experts, motions practice, and sentencing reform will be presented in both plenary and breakout sessions.
8 - 10
Federal Defender Investigator and Paralegal Seminar
This two-and-a-half-day program will cover a wide range of criminal defense topics specifically targeted toward investigators, paralegals, mitigation specialists, and social workers, 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 and cognitive impairment issues, document management and analysis, online investigation, BOP issues, and offense-specific tips for building a defense in a variety of federal cases. This year, the seminar will also include an interpreter track that includes sessions for defender interpreters, and sessions of general interest to anyone on the defense team who works with interpreters. Priority in registration will be given to federal defender staff, but slots will be available to a limited number of investigators, paralegals and interpreters who handle private CJA cases. In addition, a hands-on small group session on Casepoint and Tools for Combating Large Volume Cases will be available to 32 participants. To sign up for the hands-on session, first register for the seminar.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN - Please click on the following link to register - http://www.cvent.com/d/3tqg6m
17 - 19
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.
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN - Please click on the following link to register - http://www.cvent.com/d/xtqb0c
17 - 19
Non-Capital Sentencing Mitigation Skills Workshop
Using a storytelling approach, this workshop presents a hands-on method on the development of non-capital mitigation and its integration into persuasive sentencing advocacy. Through plenary and small group sessions, participants will further their understanding on non-capital mitigation evidence and the skills necessary to effectively interview for mitigation; investigate, collect and analyze records; and write reports and/or sentencing memorandum to present mitigation at sentencing. In the small group sessions, participants will use pending cases of their own to practice interviewing, storytelling, and persuasive writing. This workshop is specifically designed for non-capital mitigation social workers, sentencing advocates, attorneys and other professionals who provide this work under the Criminal Justice Act (CJA). Please note that due to the workshop format of this program, participation in all of the sessions is mandatory.
REGISTRATION IS NOW IN WAITLIST STATUS - Please click on the following link to register for the waitlist http://www.cvent.com/d/1tqb0x
Jun 1
NATIONAL SEMINAR FOR FEDERAL DEFENDERS
The National Seminar for Federal Defenders is designed for federal defenders and assistant federal defenders who have been practicing criminal law for a minimum of three years. Topics include substantive federal criminal law, trial tactics, evidence, computer technology, ethics, and sentencing issues. The seminar features both plenary and breakout sessions.
For more information regarding this program, including registration information, contact Chuck Arberg at the Federal Judicial Center at (202) 502-4050 or e-mail him at carberg@fjc.gov. The agenda and materials will be posted on the Federal Judicial Center's intranet page.
7 - 8
Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense Seminar II
This program is designed for those new to federal criminal defense practice and addresses topics such as discovery and motion practice, pleas and proffers, the Bail Reform Act, and the basics of the sentencing guidelines. Limited financial assistance may be available to non-federal defender registrants for travel purposes.
7 - 9
Winning Strategies Seminar II
The Winning Strategies Seminar brings together a dynamic group of attorneys and other legal professionals to speak on a wide variety of topics, all specifically designed to keep CJA practitioners abreast of the most recent and important developments in federal criminal defense. Sessions include both large plenary lectures as well as smaller breakout sessions that meet the specific needs of the advanced practitioner and the less experienced attorney alike. The anticipated sessions will include such topics as a Supreme Court update, defending gun, drug, immigration, and RICO cases, implicit bias, sentencing issues, ethics, and more. Also being presented, for those new to federal criminal defense practice, is the Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense Seminar. Participants must register for each program separately. Limited financial assistance may be available to non-federal defender registrants for travel expenses.
28 - 30
Paralegal and Investigator Skills Workshop
The Paralegal and Investigator Skills Workshop is a hands-on program providing intensive training in several skills (e.g., interviewing, case management/organization, locating records and witnesses, analyzing documents) that are essential to the daily work of paralegals and investigators in federal defender offices or assigned to CJA panel cases. The program is designed to give participants the opportunity to learn by doing, using a combination of plenary sessions and interactive small group breakouts. In the small groups, participants practice the skills introduced in the plenary sessions, using the facts of a model case.
Because the workshop emphasizes essential skills, it is particularly valuable to new investigators and paralegals. Those with more experience will find it to be a useful refresher and an opportunity to share their knowledge with others. Please note that, due to the workshop format of this program, participants will be required to attend all sessions. To attend this workshop, participants must (1) be employees with paralegal and/or investigator duties in a federal defender office, or regularly perform such duties in conjunction with federal CJA panel attorney appointments and (2) have not attended this workshop in the past. Enrollment for this program is limited to 70 participants.
12 - 14
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.