Federal Defense Race Conference: Strategies in Pursuit of Justice

In July, Defender Nation will gather in Philadelphia to share litigation ideas, foster friendships, and strengthen our collective resilience and hope in our work at the Race Conference.

The American criminal legal system’s history is steeped in racial inequities, from the oppression of Indigenous Tribes to the disproportionate incarceration of Black people and the targeted prosecution of Latinx communities. The Race Conference is designed to address these critical issues and many more head-on, providing everyone with tools and strategies to combat racial injustice.

We will cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Strategies for litigating race from street encounters to Fourth Amendment challenges, and a blueprint on winning selective enforcement claims
• Navigating the evolving landscape of federal drug policy
• Practical tips for defending noncitizens
• Methods to reduce racial disparities in detention hearings, charging, pleas, and sentencing
• Techniques for de-biasing the court and creating more inclusive environments
• Approaches to recruiting and retaining diverse talent
• Effective ways to have difficult conversations about race

We will also hear and learn directly from those who have experienced the unnecessary cruelty of the law firsthand.

This program is open to everyone working pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act. Yes, that means heads of offices, administrative officers, attorneys, investigators, legal assistants, paralegals, and literally all CJA defense professionals. Feedback from past conferences has highlighted the immense value of this training, with many remarking it should be “mandatory.” 

If you have questions about the content of this program, please contact Akin Adepoju at Akin_Adepoju@ao.uscourts.gov. 

Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. This program may satisfy CLE requirements in ethics, elimination of bias, inclusion and cultural competency, and professionalism.