Shelley Sadin has published the latest edition of the CJA Panel Quarterly

Click to download Volume III Number 2

The Proposed CJA Plan has been added to the CJA Members Section.
Here is a direct link: Proposed CJA Plan

Registration is now open for the Office of Defender Services Training Branch's Law and Technology Workshop: Electronic Courtroom Presentation, scheduled for July 19-21, 2012 in Minneapolis, MN.

As with all of our programs, there is no registration fee. There is a limited amount of funding to provide financial assistance to panel attorneys for travel expenses.

Please note that registration is limited to approximately 65 participants and the spots fill up quickly.The Law and Technology Electronic Courtroom Presentation Workshop focuses on the use of modern technology to improve the persuasiveness of courtroom presentations and receives excellent evaluations each time it is presented. This workshop is an intensive program where participants will learn to use TrialDirector and PowerPoint products to sharpen their courtroom skills. Attendees will enhance their direct-examination, cross-examination, and opening/closing argument abilities with detailed application and use of these litigation tools. Today, many federal courtrooms are "wired" to accommodate the latest computer programs, and this technology has proven to be an effective and persuasive addition to lawyers' arsenals. Participation in the Law and Technology Workshop is particularly valuable for federal criminal defense attorneys.

A draft agenda for the program and the financial assistance application can also be found on the Training Branch web site,www.fd.org,where one can also register for the workshop

The second FY 2012 Winning Strategies and Fundamentals Seminars for CJA panel attorneys will take place in Minneapolis, MN, 10-12, 2012 and registration, for which there is no fee,is now open. The Winning Strategies seminar provides panel attorneys with an array of sessions across the gamut of federal criminal defense, such as sentencing, plea negotiations, immigration consequences, the use of experts and more.

The Fundamentals Program takes place on May 10th, and is specifically designed for practitioners who are new to federal criminal practice, and covers such basic topics as bail, client interviews, sentencing, Bureau of Prisons issues, and more. Recently, an attendee said about these events, "Please continue these fabulous programs. The speakers are top-notch and they make learning enjoyable."

Participants must register for these two programs separately, and limited financial assistance for travel costs is available. Registration and the financial assistance form are available at www.fd.org. A flyer about the programs is attached and a draft agenda is posted on fd.org. For substantive information about these events, please contact Eric Vos at Eric_Vos@ao.uscourts.gov. For logistical information, please contact LaVerne Mott at LaVerne_Mott@ao.uscourts.gov.

Shelley Sadin has published the latest edition of the CJA Panel Quarterly

Click to download Volume III Number 1

The Sentencing Advocacy Workshop, presented by the Office of Defender Services Training Branch, is a tuition-free CLE for Federal Defender attorneys and CJA panel attorneys which focuses on an often neglected, yet extremely important, area of practice. Since over 97 percent of federal criminal cases proceed to the sentencing phase, participation in the Sentencing Advocacy Workshop should not be missed. The workshop presents a comprehensive approach to sentencing advocacy.

Participants will learn a process for the development of a persuasive, fact-based sentencing theory and the advocacy skills necessary to advance that theory in writing and during sentencing hearings. Participants bring a pending case of their own to the workshop where they brainstorm the facts of the case, develop a theory and theme, apply storytelling techniques, write the first part of their sentencing memo, and discuss what to present and how to conduct the sentencing hearing. The draft agenda is attached. Limited financial assistance is available to CJA panel attorneys demonstrating financial need. Details regarding how to register for the Sentencing Advocacy Workshop, apply for financial assistance and further information about our training programs and resources can be found at www.fd.org

The updated version of "My Little Red Rules Books" will be sent to the printer soon and should be ready for distribution in early February. You can send a check for $6.00 per book to the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington & Idaho office and they will send a book out upon receipt of the check.

Ordering information can be found at their website: www.fdewi.org

In addition to the printed version, they also have an App version available on the iTunes store for both iPhone and iPad. The electronic version has many features including bookmarks and the ability to add notes and can be found at this link to purchase:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-little-red-rules-book/id465641166?mt=8

On December 7, 2011, the Second Circuit Judicial Council approved the proposed revision to Local Criminal Rule 32 and the amendment to the Final Speedy Trial Plan. Refer to the Local Rules link on the navigation menu on the left.

The National Appellate Defender Skills Training is a unique, national skills training that brings together state and federal court appellate public defenders for a multi-day learning program. Each participant brings an appellate case brief or Writ of Certiorari and has the opportunity to work on the analysis and drafting of that brief or Writ with feedback from an outstanding, national faculty.

February 16-19,2012
Renaissance Haborplace Hotel
Baltimore, MD

Register Now!

Published Opinions:

United States v. Bruno

Summary Orders:

United States v. Alnutt
United States v. Cifonelli
United States v. Fisher
United States v. Shaw
United States v. Tribble
United States v. Gonzalez
United States v. Cruz

Habeas:

Graham v. Portundo

Shelley Sadin has published the latest edition of the CJA Panel Quarterly

Click to download Volume II Number 4

Two Supreme Court decisions, one on an argued case, one a per curiam grant and reversal. Both habeas matters.

Green v. Fisher
Bobby v. Dixon

Two Summary Orders:

United states v. Pince/Pica
United States v.Roy

The following four opinions were published:United States v. HernandezUnited States v. HernandezUnited States v. Burke/CooperUnited States v. Burke/CooperUnited States v. FreemanUnited States v. FreemanUnited States v. HenryUnited States v. Henry

The following three opinions were published:United States v. BankiUnited States v. BahelUnited States v. Simmons

The following two second circuit opinions were published last week:

United States v. Thorn
United States v. Rivera

The first FY 2012 Winning Strategies and Fundamentals Seminars for CJA panel attorneys will take place in Santa Fe, NM, February 2-4, 2012 and registration is now open. As is the case with all of our programs, there is no registration fee. The Winning Strategies seminar provides panel attorneys with an array of sessions across the gamut of federal criminal defense, such as sentencing, plea negotiations, immigration consequences, the use of experts and more. The Fundamentals Program takes place on February 2nd, and is specifically designed for practitioners who are new to federal criminal practice, and covers such basic topics as bail, client interviews, sentencing, Bureau of Prisons issues, and more. Recently, an attendee said about these events, "Please continue these fabulous programs. The speakers are top-notch and they make learning enjoyable." Participants must register for these two programs separately and may do so at etrak.fd.org/meetings.aspx. Limited financial assistance for travel costs is available. The financial assistance forms are available at www.fd.org.For substantive information about these events, please contact Eric Vos at Eric_Vos@ao.uscourts.gov.For logistical information, please contact Jenna Shepard at Jenna_Shepard@ao.uscourts.gov

A draft of the FY12 training schedule has been added to the CJA section.

Shelley Sadin has published the latest edition of the CJA Panel Quarterly

Click to download Volume II Number 3

The United States Sentencing Commission voted unanimously today to give retroactive effect to its proposed permanent amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines that implements the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. Retroactivity of the amendment will become effective on November 1, 2011― the same day that the proposed permanent amendment would take effect― unless Congress acts to disapprove the amendment.

View the press release on the Sentencing Commissions website.

The information below is from National Litigation Support Administrator, Sean Broderick on the new blog.

The National Litigation Support Team (NLST) is excited to announce the launch of their blog which can be found at: http://nlsblog.org.

The purpose of the blog is share information regarding new and existing litigation support technology tailored to the interests of federal public defender staff and court-appointed Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys. Besides facilitating communication among that community and us, we intend to highlight how people are taking advantage of different types of litigation support software programs and services, to share interesting articles and case law, as well as making available short, step-by-step guides and videos on how to use common applications (some which you may already have). We envision this forum to be a resource, a quick help guide, and an enjoyable read. We plan on inviting guest bloggers to add perspective, we welcome feedback and questions so that we continue to expand on the topics we cover and most importantly, we want to reiterate that we are here to help you as you represent CJA-eligible criminal defendants.

We intend to post a new entry weekly and to answer questions and address comments in a timely manner. Of course, we can still be reached by phone or email but if you have a question that you think others might have, please let us know so that we can put it out on the blog for all to benefit from. In a world where social media has taken communication to a whole different level, we hope that this blog will allow you easy access to useful information and a place to share ideas. To assist the CJA panel who don't have access to federal defender internal networks, the blog will be hosted on a public site and available to all who are interested.

Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions, thoughts or if you would like to be a guest blogger. Blogging is about community building so the more active the site, the more helpful it will be to the entire defender community. We look forward to hearing from you.

A Power Point presentation and associated handouts from the defense attorney training panel presented this past Friday at the Sentencing Commission's annual Guidelines seminar. The presentation covers 2010 and proposed 2011 amendments, as well as a review of the law, including guideline deconstruction arguments and recent Supreme Court cases.

The materials, courtesy of Todd Bussert, can be found in the CJA Reference Docs section (login required).

The Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense Seminar (Multi-Track) is designed to offer in-depth instruction in a variety of substantive criminal topic areas. Many practitioners may feel there are just certain areas of defense they need to "beef" up on and Multi-Track allows attendees to select these specific areas, or tracks, and to really delve into particular areas of defense. This year's tracks will be in the areas of:

1. Immigration with an emphasis on the implications of Padilla (Thursday & Friday)
2. Sentencing in a post-Booker world (Thursday & Friday)
3. Experts, forensics & science (Thursday & Friday)
4. Computer crimes & the handling of electronic discovery (Thursday & Friday)
5. Drugs, Guns and Money - Major Federal Felonies (Saturday Only)

Tracks 1-4 will be presented on Thursday and Friday in a manner which will allow participants the opportunity to attend 2 complete tracks of the 4 offered. On Saturday the seminar will include sessions addressing topics of general interest from the areas of drugs, guns and fraud - all of which are central to criminal defense practitioners. All days will include both plenary sessions as well as the opportunity to attend small group breakouts covering a variety of substantive criminal defense issues.

Please visit www.fd.org for registration information.

DNA for the DEFENSE
Friday, June 17, 2011
Legislative Office Building
Hartford, CT.

Co-sponsored by the Division of Public Defender Services Training & Education Department and the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

What does DNA stand for? What's an allele? Where does DNA come from? How does it get collected? How much do they need? What's an epithelial cell? How does the lab test for it? What is Mitochondrial DNA? What do all those numbers in the reports mean? What motions should I file? What statutes control admissibility? What is a database hit?What does '1 in 7 billion'; really mean?

For the answers to these questions and many more...register for 'DNA for the Defense' today! We will have an experienced faculty on hand to teach you what you need to know about litigating DNA issues...;including personnel from the CT State Forensic Science Laboratory to explain the DNA database and 'Cold-Case' DNA database hits.

To register, please email John.Cizik@jud.ct.gov before June 3, 2011