There is no question – racial and ethnic disparities abound in our criminal justice system. Racial bias, both conscious and unconscious, results in more people of color being stopped, arrested, convicted and imprisoned than ever before. Criminal defense lawyers and public defenders are not immune to bias and, of all people in the system, should be aware of their biases and keep them in check.

During this webinar, we discuss representing clients with intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD). Topics include an overview of disability culture, how to identify potential disability, communication with people with disabilities, and the various pitfalls in the criminal justice system where those with I/DD in particular can get lost in the system. We also provide an overview of attorney obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how attorneys can accommodate their clients with disabilities before, during, and after a trial or plea negotiation.

Silicon Valley De-Bug’s Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project has developed an approach for clients, their families, and their communities to partner with public defender offices to change the outcome of cases and policies that govern the local criminal justice system. Raj Jayadev shares the model called “participatory defense” and ways defender offices could employ the approach locally with their communities.

This webinar provides a medical primer about the current state of medicine with regard to HIV research and treatment. This primer is be coupled with a discussion on how to use medical research to develop defenses, present the court with mitigation, negotiate favorable pleas for clients, and litigate constitutional, evidentiary, and discovery issues. There is also a section exploring the ethical issues that attorneys must grapple with when handling these cases.

The Myth of Colorblind Justice presented by L. Song Richardson, Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine

Race Matters I: The Impact of Race on Criminal Justice
September 14-15, 2017 | Detroit, MI

Learn about the different ways lawyers have organized within the legal community and beyond to better address racial inequity in their jurisdictions.

20^th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 18-20, 2021 | Held Virtually

Recording and resources for Defenders Becoming DAs: Unpacking the Tension in Our Community.

This discussion examines the roles of race, power, and engagement in the attorney-client relationship.

As the criminal legal system explores ways to resume court proceedings, stakeholders must balance public health concerns with efforts to uphold core constitutional rights. Moderated by Professor Andrea Roth (UC Berkeley Law), panelists Sherry Boston (District Attorney, DeKalb County, GA), Martín Sabelli (Law Offices of Martín Sabelli, San Francisco, CA) and Circuit Court Judge Annie O’Connell (Louisville, KY) discuss the legal and practical definitions of what it means to confront a witness, hold a public trial, and ensure an accused receives the effective assistance of counsel.

The Sixth Amendment guarantee to a speedy trial is a cornerstone of the American criminal legal system. Its broad cloak serves to protect the interests of the accused, witnesses, the government and the community in ensuring meaningful and timely resolution to criminal charges. Today, as judges, prosecutors, and defendants begin to navigate the aftermath of long periods of court closures and the resulting backlog of cases, stakeholders face new questions and challenges in meeting obligations to community health and safety while also protecting core constitutional rights.

Gideon's Army Documentary Trailer

The Guardian

In this episode of The Criminal Docket, we'll hear about two important indigent defense reports recently issued by NACDL.