This training program will aid those working to defend persons accused of homicide in drug-related overdose deaths. Each section of the program focuses on a different aspect of these cases. CLE is not available for this program.

Police body-worn camera footage can be inconclusive at best and misleading at worst, and thus it is imperative that the defense community understand the key technical features of body-worn camera systems. For example, police body-worn cameras automatically save the 30 seconds of footage prior to the officer activating the camera. Moreover, other available data kept by camera systems could reveal which officers reviewed the footage and when, and who marked the video for deletion.

While often justified as a way to deter violence inside facilities, solitary confinement is more often used to punish non-violent transgressions such as dress code violations, refusal to work, or lack of respect toward correctional officials. Despite the failure of the U.S. Supreme Court to find that solitary confinement per se violates the Eighth Amendment, increasing numbers of stakeholders, including correctional officers, have called for its abolition.

Powerpoint slides by Prof. David S. Cohen. Presented at the NACDL annual summit Policing Pregnancy: The Impact of Data and Surveillance on Reproductive Healthcare in December 2024

Powerpoint slides by Jenice Fountain of Yellowhammer Fund. Presented at the NACDL annual summit Policing Pregnancy: The Impact of Data and Surveillance on Reproductive Healthcare in December 2024

Powerpoint slides by Jamila Perritt, MD MPH FACOG, of Physicians for Reproductive Health. Presented at the NACDL annual summit Policing Pregnancy: The Impact of Data and Surveillance on Reproductive Healthcare in December 2024

This second of two sessions provides a roadmap for dealing with character evidence (FRE 404 and 405), including how to defend against 404(b) prior bad act evidence, and how to use FRE 404(b) to bolster the defense case. It will cover character evidence in the context of sexual assault cases (FRE 413) and child molestation cases (FRE 414). How to attack the credibility of witnesses for untruthfulness (FRE 608), and the rules dealing with impeachment by criminal conviction (FRE 609) will also be discussed.

This first of two sessions provides a roadmap for dealing with character evidence (FRE 404 and 405), including how to defend against 404(b) prior bad act evidence, and how to use FRE 404(b) to bolster the defense case. It will cover character evidence in the context of sexual assault cases (FRE 413) and child molestation cases (FRE 414). How to attack the credibility of witnesses for untruthfulness (FRE 608), and the rules dealing with impeachment by criminal conviction (FRE 609) will also be discussed.

Presented by Rene Valladares, Federal Public Defender, District of Nevada

The law of expert evidence has experienced significant recent developments.  This presentation will discuss the recent amendment to Federal Rule of Evidence 702 (experts) and what we as criminal defense lawyers can do to take advantage of the amendment (especially when it comes to excluding government sponsored expert evidence).  The presentation will also cover the recent Supreme Court decisions in Diaz v. United States (opinion on ultimate issue), and Smith v. Arizona (Confrontation Clause).

An ongoing interactive webinar series regularly hosted by NACDL. Wednesdays at 2 pm ET / 11am PT. On this page, you can register for the series, volunteer as faculty, submit feedback, and watch past videos!

This is not your usual “eyewitness identification” piece. The authors’ idea – using an ophthalmologist as an expert — is different. Before the witness viewed the lineup or other identification process, did the police officers inquire whether the witness had a prescription for corrective lenses? This is an area lawyers may not be exploring.

Some crime victims say they remember every detail of the incident. Other victims barely remember what happened. Does a person’s memory for a traumatic event improve and become more complete in the days after the trauma? Is the memory for a traumatic event “burned into the brain” and immune to being forgotten? Researchers Daniel Reisberg and Kathy Pezdek provide an overview of current science.

Some of the trials lasted no more than five minutes. None of the Santee Dakota Indians – most who had no command of the English language – had interpreters, counsel, or the ability to call witnesses in their defense.