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. Click here for CLE FAQs.
If you have any questions about registering, please emailus.
Dec 31
RECORDING - 2023 Guideline Amendments Overview: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
This session from our Winning Strategies Seminar - Virtual, presented by Jayme Feldman and Leslie Scott, provides an overview of the 2023 Sentencing Guideline Amendments, which were transmitted to Congress on April 27, 2023, and will go into effect on November 1, 2023, absent congressional action to the contrary. We review the guideline amendment process and discuss the most important amendments promulgated by the Commission this year. We identify and brainstorm strategies forsentencing advocacy in light of the amendments, including how to use the ameliorative ones now and how to argue for the narrowest possible reading of the harmful ones down the line. By the end of the session, participants should understand the sentencing guideline amendment process; be familiar with the 2023 guideline amendments; and identify related strategies for success at sentencing.
Visit the program page for further information and to view the recording.
For information about how to obtain CLE for watching a recording of this program, please visit our CLE Information Center and CLE FAQs.
Dec 31
RECORDING - Retroactive Application Of New Criminal History Guidelines Amendment 821
This webinar, presented by Adeel Bashir and Sapna Mirchandani was live on November 14th 2023 and provides information on Retroactive Application Of New Criminal History Guidelines Amendment 821. On April 27, 2023, the Sentencing Commission submitted to Congress an amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines often referred to as “Amendment 821” or “2023 Criminal History Amendment.” On August 24, 2023, Commissioners voted to allow delayed retroactive application to Amendment 821 Part A and subpart 1 of Part B. Part A limits the overall criminal history impact of “Status Points” at USSG §4A1.1. Part B, Subpart 1 creates a new Chapter Four guideline at USSG §4C1.1 decreasing by two the offense levels for defendants who did not receive any criminal history points and whose instant offense did not involve specific aggravating factors. If Congress does not act to reject the amendment, thousands of eligible incarcerated individuals will be able to ask courts to reduce their sentences beginning November 1, 2023. Orders granting retroactive relief under the amendment cannot have an effective date prior to February 1, 2024. This webinar will discuss who is eligible for retroactive application, how to make a motion for reduced sentence, what the judge considers when deciding to grant a reduction, limitations on the extent of the reduction a court can make, and strategies to maximize the impact of relief to currently incarcerated individuals.
Visit the program page for further information and to view the recording.
For information about how to obtain CLE for watching a recording of this program, please visit our CLE Information Center and CLE FAQs.
11 - 15
The Andrea Taylor Sentencing Advocacy Workshop - Virtual Program
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-centered communication, interviewing for mitigation, fact busting, developing persuasive theories and themes, storytelling at sentencing, persuasive writing, and persuasive presentation.
This virtual iteration of the workshop consists of pre-recorded videos 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, participants must commit to attend all parts of this workshop, i.e., prepare for the workshop sessions by watching all seven (7) pre-recorded videos, and attend all five (5) live small group breakout sessions between 3:30-5:30 PM EST on five consecutive days (Dec. 11 - 15, 2023).
Enrollment for this program is limited to 60 participants – priority will be given to those people who have not attended this workshop in the past.
CLE Information
We have applied for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the seminar. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.
17
Evidence Wednesdays: A Defender's Guide to 2023 Amendments
Important amendments to the Federal Rules of Evidence are scheduled to become effective at the end of 2023. Amendments to Rule 106 (rule of completeness), 605 (exclusion of witnesses) and 702 (testimony by experts) will bring significant opportunities and challenges for defense lawyers. This presentation discusses how to avoid the challenges and how to capitalize on the opportunities brought by these amendments. We also address amendments that are scheduled to become effective in 2024, as well as important evidence trends that will impact our practice.
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.
CLE Information
We have applied for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the seminar. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.
25 - 27
Bail Boot Camp
Three out of every four federal criminal defendants in the United States are held in pretrial detention, despite a presumption of innocence. Shocked? A high majority of the people held are of color. Outraged? One reason for this high rate of pretrial detention involves a misunderstanding and misapplication by the parties – the court, the prosecution, probation, and yes, the defense – of the Bail Reform Act (BRA). Appalled? The failure of the parties to adhere to the Bail Reform Act and the lack of zealous advocacy at the initial appearance and detention hearings have led to a crisis within the federal bail system – a crisis that has caused detrimental, and in many cases, irreversible negative consequences to the clients we represent.
The Bail Boot Camp is a skills-based workshop designed to change the system. Using a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and small group exercises, participants will learn the tools necessary to zealously defend their clients in the context of initial appearances and detention hearings.
Registration will be limited to 60 CJA Panel Attorneys and Federal Defender attorneys. Limited financial assistance may be available to CJA Panel Attorneys.
CLE & CIN
We will apply for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the workshop. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.
For those attending from FPDOs, the Conference Identification Number (CIN) for this workshop is CONF240016.
14
Evidence Wednesdays: A Defender’s Guide to Crawford and Bruton
A thorough understanding of Crawford and Bruton issues is crucial for criminal defense lawyers. The Confrontation Clause area, however, can seem daunting and riddled with contradictory Supreme Court decisions. Moreover, this is an ever-evolving area as demonstrated by cases such as Smith v. Arizona, No. 22-889 (U.S. Sept. 29, 2023) (cert. granted). This presentation demystifies Crawford and Bruton and provides defense lawyers a clear and systematic method of tackling Confrontation Clause issues.
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.
CLE Information
We have applied for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the seminar. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.
13
Evidence Wednesdays: A Defender’s Guide to Evidence in Guns and Drugs Cases
The decades-long war on drugs significantly altered evidence law in drugs and guns cases leaving it littered with landmines for defense lawyers. This presentation provides a method for tackling the pervasive challenges defense lawyers face in drugs and guns cases such as co-conspirator statements, prior bad acts, and questionable government expert evidence.
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.
CLE Information
We have applied for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the seminar. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.
17
Evidence Wednesdays: A Defender’s Guide to Evidence in Sex Cases
The Federal Rules of Evidence overwhelmingly favor the prosecution in sex cases. For instance, unlike other type of cases, Rules 413 and 414 allow for prior acts to be used as propensity evidence in sexual assault cases and child molestation ones. Likewise, Rule 412 imposes significant barriers on what defense lawyers can do to challenge an alleged victim. This presentation equips defense lawyers with the tools to successfully navigate these challenges.
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.
CLE Information
We have applied for CLE accreditation in states that have mandatory requirements. We regret that we cannot respond to telephone inquiries regarding the status of CLE approval prior to the seminar. All information related to CLE will be emailed to attendees within 15-30 days following the program.
- To minimize reporting fees per attorney/program, if you are barred in more than one of the following states NM, TN, PA, NE, attendance will be reported to one state only.
- The attorney is responsible for making sure the appropriate state and bar number is on file with the DSO Training Division.
- For applicable states, attendance will be reported using the bar number and state(s) listed on the registration form submitted for this program.
- Failure to provide the state and bar number may result in the Training Division not being able to report your attendance.