The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
and the Southern Center for Human Rights present:
 

Making the Case for Life XI:
Mitigation and Jury Selection in Capital Cases

REGISTER

Join the NACDL and the Southern Center for Human Rights at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, September 11 – 13, 2008, for the 11th Annual Making the Case for Life seminar. The primary focus of this CLE program is the investigation, development, and presentation of penalty phase mitigation evidence in capital cases. Nationally recognized experts will address topics including mitigation standards, creative motions practice, demystifying mental health instruments, working with experts, gangs and drug crews, mental retardation, plea negotiations, representing foreign nationals, substance abuse and mental illness, and more. Faculty will also lead an in-depth discussion of the science of capital jury selection. This program has gotten great reviews from capital lawyers, mitigation specialists and investigators in past years.

Confirmed faculty include: Chris Adams, Ty Alper, Marc Bookman, Tobias Brown, Mickell Branham, Sarah Forte, Scharlette Holdman, Lee Hood, Richard Jaffe, Kathryn Kase, William R. Montross, Jr., Margaret O'Donnell, Vanessa Potkin, Cyndy Short, Russ Stetler, Pamela Blume Leonard, Lori James Townes, Scott Sundby, Jonathan Lyon and Tony Strickland.  

  • When: September 11 - 13, 2008
  • Where: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, 800-582-2228.
  • How much: $250 for attorneys, $200 for investigators and mitigation specialists.
  • Registration: Print the registration form and fax it with credit card information to 404-688-9440 or mail it with check to:

                        Making the Case for Life XI
                        Southern Center for Human Rights
                        83 Poplar Street, NW
                        Atlanta, GA 30303-2122

Questions? Contact NACDL’s Death Penalty Resource Counsel Terrica Redfield at tredfield@schr.org or 404-688-1202.

AGENDA (click for .pdf)

Thursday, September 11

3:00 - 3:15 Welcome

3:15 - 4:00 Making the Case for Life: The Kennedy Brewer & Levon Brooks Stories

Vanessa Potkin

4:00 – 5:00 Creative Motions Practice

Marc Bookman and Margaret O’Donnell

5:00 – 6:00 Mitigation Guidelines: What they are and Why You MUST Follow Them

Russ Stetler

6:00 – 7:00 Defense Initiated Victim Outreach: Why & How

Mickell Branham


Friday, September 12

7:30 - 9:00 Registration/breakfast

9:00 – 10:45 Structuring and Presenting Your Mitigation Claim: Case Examples

Cyndy Short and Lori James Townes

10:45 - 11:00 Break

11:00 – 12:00 Lessons from the Capital Jury Project

Scott Sundby

12:00 - 1:15 Lunch (on your own)



Track I:

1:15 - 2:15 Litigating Competence at Trial and in Post-Conviction

William R. Montross, Jr.

2:15 - 3:15 Long-term Drug Use and Its Physical Effects

Tony Strickland

3:15 - 3:30 Break

3:30 - 4:30 Mental Retardation Hearings: How to Prepare and What to Present

Kathryn Kase

4:30 - 5:30 Linking Mental Illness to Both Phases

Scharlette Holdman



Track II:

1:15 – 5:00 Individual Case Consultations

Participants may sign up for consultations with the faculty\



6:00 – 8:00 Reception



Saturday, September 13

7:30 - 9:00 Breakfast



Track I:

9:00 - 10:15 Investigating Sexual Abuse

Richard Bourke

10:30 - 11:30 Exposing the Gauntlet of Death Penalty Decision-Making

Lee Hood



9:00 – 12:00 Track II: Post Conviction Juror Interview Workshop

9:00 - 9:45 Developing, Establishing, & Proving Juror Misconduct Claims

Ty Alper

9:45 – 10:15 The Nuts & Bolts of Juror Interviews

Sarah Forte & Tobias Brown

10:30 – 12:00 Demonstration, Practice, Q & A



11:30 - 1:00 Lunch (on your own)



Track I:

1:00 – 5:00 Advanced Techniques in Capital Voir Dire: Stripping and Saving Jurors

1:00 - 1:30 Introduction to the Colorado Method

Chris Adams

1:30 - 2:30 Techniques in Stripping and Saving Jurors

Richard Jaffe

2:30 – 2:45 Break

2:45 – 5:00 Advanced Capital Jury Selection

Richard Jaffe & Chris Adams

5:00 – 5:45 Closing Argument Demonstration

Richard Jaffe



1:00 – 4:30 Track II Internet Investigation

Jonathan Lyon

8:30 – 5:30 Track III Defense Initiated Victim Outreach Training

Participants must apply in advance

9:00 – 5:00 Track IV Individual Case Consultations

Participants may sign up for consultations with the faculty