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. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for DSO Training Division Programs will be requested unless otherwise noted. Program Credit hours will always be subject to each state's approval and credit rounding rules. Approved programs and credit hours will be made available at the conclusion of applicable programs.
NEW For CLE information and available resources pertaining to your state, please visit the CLE Information Center.
Please read the 2022 DSO In-Person Health & Safety Protocols.
If you have any questions about registering, please emailus.
29
The Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act: We're All in the Same Boat
This presentation will provide a broad overview of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (MDLEA), along with a discussion of recent developments under the statute and litigation tips. The presentation will begin with a discussion of the "Felonies on the high Seas" Clause under Article I, Section 8, Clause 10 of the U.S. CONST., and the limitations that clause places on the United States' ability to arrest and prosecute foreign nationals for drug trafficking offenses at sea. The presentation will include a discussion of challenges to the statute that have been raised in the circuit courts, as well as recurring topics including pre-indictment delay and sentencing issues.
Presenters:
Nicole Valdes Hardin is an assistant federal defender in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division. She is an author of "Uncovering the Secrecy of Stingrays: What Every Practitioner Needs to Know", in the ABA's Criminal Justice Magazine (Winter 2018) and co-author of "The Myth of Cell Tower Tracking" with Cherry, Imwinkelreid, and Romano (Los Angeles Journal, November 2011). While in law school she interned with the Honorable Ronald L. Ellis in the Southern District of New York. Ms. Hardin is board certified in the area of criminal trial law and serves on the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee of the Florida Bar. She previously worked as a state assistant public defender in Florida, as second chair in death penalty cases and assisted in revising the statewide training manual for public defenders.
Tracy Dreispul is the Deputy Chief of Appeals at the Federal Public Defender's Office for the Southern District of Florida. She is the author of chapters on the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act in the 3rd and 4th editions of Cultural Issues in Criminal Defense (Linda Friedman Ramirez ed., 2010, and Ama N. Appiah ed., 2015). Prior to joining the Appellate Division of the FPD's office in Miami, Tracy worked as an AFPD in the Middle District of Florida and as a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, in New York. She began her career by serving as a law clerk to the late William L. Garwood, Senior Circuit Judge, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She received her B.A. and J.D., both with high honors, from the University of Florida.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. Additional CLE information will be available after the conclusion of this program.
13
Evidence Webinar Series: Part Four -The Busy Lawyer's Guide to Objections
Making and meeting objections is a critical skill for criminal defense lawyers. A command of the basics of objections allows us to control government witnesses, defeat spurious government objections and create a strong record for appeal. Learning how to deal with objections properly, however, can seem intimidating. For instance, some lists offer dozens of different objections and distinguishing between them can be daunting. The purpose of this presentation is to demystify objections. We will cover the basics of objections to form and to substance and offer tips on how to properly make them.
Presenter:
Rene Valladares is the Federal Public Defender for the District of Nevada. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Boyd School of Law, and the UNLV Criminal Justice Department. He lectures nationally on various criminal law and procedure topics including evidence and the defense of conspiracy cases. Mr. Valladares serves on the Federal Defenders' Performance Measurement Working Group. Recently, Rene Valladares wrote a Defender’s Guide to Federal Evidence: A Trial Practice Handbook for Criminal Defense Attorneys, published by NACDL.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. Additional CLE information will be available after the conclusion of this program.
14
Fourth Amendment Webinar Series Part Two - Anatomy of a Suppression Hearing: From the Art of Cross-Examination and Development of the Record to an Order of Exclusion and Dismissal
Critical to successfully litigating a motion to suppress is a deft cross-examination of law enforcement and development of the record that leaves the court with no other choice than to exclude the seized evidence and statements. This webinar dissects each stage of litigating a winning motion to suppress, from the initial investigation, preparation, and briefing to a winning cross-examination that exposes the government’s violation of your client’s Fourth Amendment rights.
Presenters:
Caitlan Howard and Leah Gonzales are attorneys with the San Diego Federal Defenders, Inc.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. Additional CLE information will be available after the conclusion of this program.
14 - 16
IN-PERSON 2022 Paralegal and Investigator Skills Workshop (PISW)
The Paralegal and Investigator Skills Workshop (PISW) is a hands-on program providing intensive training in several skills (e.g., interviewing, case management/organization, locating records/witnesses, and analyzing documents) that are essential to the daily work of paralegals and investigators. Both federal defender staff and paralegals/investigators who work with CJA panel attorneys are encouraged to attend. 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.
This workshop emphasizes essential federal defense team skills. As a result, it is particularly valuable to new investigators and paralegals. However, those with more experience will find it to be a useful refresher and an opportunity to share their knowledge with others. Due to the workshop format of this program, participants will be required to attend all sessions. NOTE: eligibility to participate at this workshop is limited to, (1) federal defender staff with paralegal and/or investigator duties, or others who regularly perform such duties in conjunction with federal CJA panel attorney appointments, and (2) those who have not previously attended this workshop. Enrollment for this training event is limited to 72 participants.
14 - 16
IN PERSON: 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. Please note that due to the workshop format of this program, participation in all of the sessions is mandatory.
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.
21 - 23
IN-PERSON 2022 Law & Technology Series: Electronic Courtroom Presentation (ECP) Workshop
The Law & Technology Series: Electronic Courtroom Presentation (ECP) Workshop provides CJA panel attorneys and federal defender organization staff with the legal, strategic, and technological considerations involved with presenting information in federal courtrooms during trials and hearings, electronically. This program uses a combination of plenary presentations and small group, hands-on instruction. In the smaller breakout groups, attendees will practice direct and cross-examination, opening statements and closing arguments, using PowerPoint and TrialDirector360 software which are well suited for electronically presenting information in the courtroom.
To best participate at this program, all attendees are required to supply their own laptop computer and are strongly encouraged to utilize their own case materials (hearing/trial, small/large). In order to be considered for admission, all applicants MUST complete and return a short skill set rubric (SSR) before an individual registration submission is finalized. NOTE: the presentation software programs used in this workshop are designed to work on Windows operating systems (as opposed to Mac). If accepted, you must bring a laptop running Windows, or a Mac laptop running a virtualized copy of Windows.
8 - 10
IN PERSON: 2022 Persuasive Writing Workshop
This hands-on workshop teaches participants how to use fact-busting and principles of storytelling and persuasion to craft fact-driven written advocacy that persuasively integrates the facts of one’s case with relevant legal principles. Participants will find that these techniques result in writing that is enjoyable to read and enhances one’s chances of winning. During the course of the program, participants will apply these principles to one of their own cases. Participants must bring to the workshop an open CJA case in which they will be filing a written work product (e.g., pre-trial or trial motion, sentencing memo involving some legal challenge, opening brief on appeal).
Registration will be limited to approximately 36 CJA panel attorneys/staff and federal defender attorneys/staff - 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.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. Additional CLE information will be available after the conclusion of this workshop. The Conference Identification Number for this program is CONF220047
11 - 13
HYBRID: 2022 Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense Seminar
The Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense Seminar will be offered as a hybrid program (in person and virtual). The seminar offers in-depth instruction in a variety of substantive areas of federal criminal defense practice. The seminar consists of related sessions, or tracks, which are grouped together allowing attorneys to select areas of practice which will best meet their training needs. There are tracks designed for attorneys at all levels of experience. In addition to the tracks, the seminar includes an additional eight substantive plenary lectures which cover more general areas of federal criminal practice. The specific track presentations for the August 2022 Seattle seminar will be listed in the agenda.
This year’s seminar will offer six tracks. One of these tracks is Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense (Fundamentals), which is designed for attendees that are new to federal practice. Fundamentals is a dedicated track and attendees selecting this option are required to attend all sessions under this track. Enrollment is limited to 70 attendees. The Fundamentals track is only available to “in-person” attendees and will not be offered virtually.
The other tracks offered include: Strategic Litigation Initiative and Advocacy; Non-Capital Mitigation & Mental Health; Trial Skills, Practice, and Evidence; Substantive Federal Offenses; and Sentencing Strategies & Practices. If you attend the seminar in person, you will have access to all the plenary and breakout sessions. If you attend the seminar virtually, you will be able to view all the plenary sessions and pre-determined breakout sessions from each track (excluding Fundamentals).
Enrollment for in-person attendance at this seminar is limited to 150 attendees. Enrollment for virtual attendance is limited to 300 attendees.
CLE & CIN
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this seminar will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. The Conference Identification Number (CIN) for this seminar is CONF220047.
16 - 18
IN-PERSON: 2022 Federal Defender Investigator and Paralegal Seminar
This two-and-a-half-day seminar will cover a wide range of topics specifically targeted toward investigators, paralegals, and others who contribute to defending federal criminal cases. A mix of plenary and concurrent breakout sessions will address areas such as online investigation, BOP issues, sentencing mitigation, mental health, document management and analysis, and offense-specific tips for building a powerful defense. Also, this program will include presentations on issues relevant to all members of the defense team including mitigation specialists and social workers. Finally, this training event will incorporate presentations centered on interpreters and those who perform interpreter duties in their offices or cases, as well as paralegals and investigators who work with bi-lingual clients and staff.
11 - 16
IN PERSON Federal CJA Trial Skills Academy (TSA)
Please save the dates for the 2022 Federal CJA Trial Skills Academy (TSA). We’re so pleased to offer this special program in-person after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. TSA will be held from Sunday, September 11-16, 2022, at the Portland Downtown Marriott Waterfront.
The skills-based Academy, in its 11th year, has been a tremendous success. This program focuses on (1) the use of a trial advocacy process to facilitate development of a persuasive, fact-based theory and supporting themes, and (2) the advocacy skills necessary to persuasively advance that theory and those themes throughout trial. A very experienced and skilled faculty leads this program through a series of plenary sessions and workshops. Elements of effective litigation advocacy skills are presented in the plenaries. Participants then engage in hands-on practice of those skills and receive feedback in small group workshops.
Unique to this TD program, we hire actors to participate and role play in various small group sessions, giving the program a dynamic element. All participants are invited to bring their own cases, and they have the unique opportunity to dive deeply into their case and develop a litigation strategy with the assistance of fellow small group members and co-facilitators. On top of learning and building skills, consider it a rare opportunity for an intensive, 6-day brainstorm session.
Here is some feedback that we have received for TSA:
- This program was amazing.
- The court granted my motion to suppress. This is the case that I brought to the seminar that we all discussed in Indianapolis. I could tell you that many of the things I learned and that you guys help me with were used in the motion to suppress. I thank you from the bottom of my heart but more importantly my client thanks you.
- My teachers were amazing. They focused on presentation tips (from posture to cadence) to substantive tips. They even strategized. All teachers came at each session from a different perspective and worked well together to teach the small groups how to be a better trial attorney. I really appreciate their dedication, time, and abilities.
- This program made me Cry and feel proud to be a lawyer.
TSA is designed for, and attendance is limited to Criminal Justice Act (CJA) practitioners, both panel attorneys and federal defender staff. There is no tuition, and materials will be provided to participants free of charge. TSA will begin mid-morning Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, and will end the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. Participants are expected to stay for the entire program.
For questions about the substance of the seminars, please contact Lisa Lunt at Lisa_Lunt@ao.uscourts.gov; for questions about registration or other logistics, please contact Cecilia Castro at Cecilia_Castro@ao.uscourts.gov.
A limited amount of financial assistance is available to qualifying CJA panel attorneys to cover a portion of travel costs.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions.
21
There is no ‘sex offense’ exception to the Fifth and Sixth Amendments: fighting recidivist sentence enhancements in child pornography cases.
Over the past 5–10 years, the categorical approach has given us some huge defense wins in the federal courts—mostly (although not entirely) with recidivist provisions referencing “crimes of violence” and “controlled substance offenses” and the like. But recidivist sentencing enhancements applicable to child pornography offenses also call for the categorical approach, which was designed in part to avoid Fifth and Sixth Amendment problems. At this webinar we’ll talk about the current state of the law—and what we need to do to make it better—and how to identify and raise categorical arguments in CP cases.
Presenters:
Shelley Fite is an attorney with the National Sentencing Resource Counsel Project of the Federal Public & Community Defenders. Although Shelley was born and raised in Florida, she has spent her professional career in Wisconsin as a public defender of one kind or the other and is based in Madison, Wisconsin. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2006 and clerking with U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, Shelley worked first an appellate attorney with Wisconsin’s State Public Defender and then an associate federal defender with Federal Defender Services of Wisconsin. She joined the Sentencing Resource Counsel Project in March of 2021.
Davina Chen is National Sentencing Resource Counsel for the Federal Public & Community Defenders. Prior to assuming this position in 2020, she practiced federal criminal defense as a trial and then an appeals attorney at the Office of the Federal Public Defender in the Central District of California (1999-2013), and as a sole practitioner (2013-2020). A graduate of U.C. Berkeley and New York University School of Law, Ms. Chen clerked for the Honorable Harry Pregerson, U.S.Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) accreditation for this program will be sought in all applicable jurisdictions. Additional CLE information will be available after the conclusion of this program.