NACDL's 2010 Spring Meeting & Seminar ---April 28 - May 1, 2010--- will be held at the luxurious and historic Peabody Hotel in the heart of downtown Memphis---just two blocks from Beale Street---which has the best live blues and jazz music outside of New Orleans.
Feelin’ the defense blues? Come to Memphis—the birthplace of Rock & Roll—and shake-up your defense skills!
Join your NACDL colleagues to hear from some of the country’s foremost litigators and experts in street crimes defenses as they share their stories and successful methods of debunking the prosecution’s efforts to demonize your clients in the bread and butter cases you handle every day. Presenters will address a wide-ranging variety of issues and litigation techniques for attacking police practices in the cases that arise from the all too pervasive police-citizen encounter, the auto stop--- from drunk driving to drugs to felony possession. Also, learn the latest trial strategies and tactics for the tough cases like homicides, gangs & sexual assaults.
Remember to save time to experience all that Memphis has to offer. Famous for its southern food & hospitality, the nightlife along Beale Street, and historic sites like Graceland or the Lorraine Motel are just a small sampling of local entertainment and site seeing available to keep you occupied during your down-time. And if that isn’t enough, consider taking a short drive to Tunica, MS—a short 40 miles away—to test your luck at the local casinos.
Start singing the tune of victory—Register today!
Extend your stay and experience all the benefits of Memphis!
Museums, Music and Beyond
Learn about Memphis’ rich history by visiting its museums – from the Cotton Museum that tells the story of this history-defining industry and its economic, artistic and cultural influences on the South and on the world, to the National Civil Rights Museum - housed in the Lorraine Motel, site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that brings the stories of civil and human rights to life in moving fashion. Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum / Burkle Estate is a deeply moving and fascinating glimpse into how runaway slaves escaped to the North. A former way station on the Underground Railroad, this home is filled with secret cellars and trap doors that reveal the escape route. To check out genuine Civil War garb and gunboat reproductions visit Mud Island River Park / Mississippi River Museum. By night, catch a live performance at the Amphitheater with the Memphis skyline as your backdrop and the rolling river at your back. Visit to Graceland, the 14-acre home of the King and a National Historic Landmark is a must-do for any visitor .It is the second most visited private home in the United States next to the White House in Washington, D.C. Take in the mansion, the Hall of Gold, "Sincerely Elvis" museum, the vintage automobile collection and his airplanes. No place better dramatizes and organizes the cultural and social ramifications of Memphis' musical connection to the world better than this Smithsonian Institute seven-gallery chronicle. With over 100 songs, the audio tour is a museum in and of itself. And directly across the street from the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum the Gibson Guitar Factory is home to the world famous Gibson Guitar. Most days you will actually be able to watch as the guitars are made. Music lovers should not miss the historic Beale Street - whose musical offerings - as lively today as ever - have helped it to be voted the second most popular entertainment district in America following Bourbon Street in New Orleans. For some family fun visit the Children's Museum of Memphis that brings science, math, health and art to life in ways that both stimulate and educate children of all ages. Or explore the 100-year-old Memphis Zoo that is home to some 3,500 animals representing over 500 different species. In the lobby of one of the most elegant hotels in the South, every day at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., catch a one-of-a-kind promenade as the world famous Peabody Ducks make their way from the elevator to the majestic fountain in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel.
Tours, Outdoor Activities and More
Break away from the hustle of city life and enjoy a relaxing stroll through the 17-acre English wood at Dixon Gardens. The Dixon Gallery - former home of cotton tycoon Hugo Dixon - boasts a vast collection of French and American impressionist and post-impressionist works. For something even more relaxing, take a walk through the Memphis Botanic Garden – home to 100,000 daffodils and a wind chime sculpture. Golf & Games Family Park is just 30 minutes from downtown Memphis featuring mini-golf course, driving range, batting cage, go-kart super track and many other indoor and outdoor activities. Main Street Trolley Tour provides an easy and comfortable way to explore Memphis’ downtown. Memphis visit wouldn’t be complete without the Riverboat rides on the historic Mississippi River. From sightseeing to dinner cruises, special events to private charters, these large paddlewheel showboats offer a fantastic view of Downtown Memphis.
Questions? Contact Meetings Manager Tamara Kalacevic at tamara@nacdl.org or call (202) 872-8600 x 248.