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Mastering Voir Dire & Cross-Examination in Pregnancy Loss and Abortion Cases

Durham, NC - Up to 7.5 General Credits

Agenda Faculty Scholarships Register Online

Summary:

Join us for an intensive one-day CLE event tailored to sharpen your litigation skills with a special focus on the criminalization of abortion and pregnancy loss cases. Delve into the intricacies of voir dire and cross-examination under the guidance of esteemed national faculty and gain invaluable insight from practicing your skills with mock jurors. Space is limited so register now to reserve your spot!

LOCATION: North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham, NC
DATE: May 18, 2024
TIME: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm ET
COST: FREE (registration is required)
CLE Credit: Up to 7.5 credits where approved

HOTEL ACCOMODATIONS:
Marriott Raleigh Durham Research Triangle Park
4700 Guardian Drive
Durham, NC 27703

Online reservations: Book your group rate for National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-Durham
Group rate: $129 plus tax (expires May 10, 2024)
Rooms/discounted group rates are not guaranteed if the block has been filled prior to the cut-off date. 

Agenda

The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.

Saturday, May 18, 2024
8:30-9:00 am

Introduction and Overview

  • Introduction to the criminalization of reproductive health (What’s at stake)
  • Overview of the day's training agenda
9:00-10:15 am

Voir Dire Techniques and Strategies Lecture 

  • Lecture on deselection techniques and strategies for effective voir dire.
  • Topics include how to frame questions, techniques for eliciting useful information, and strategies for identifying biased jurors.
  • 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM Demo with mock jurors 
10:15-10:30 am Break/Move to breakout rooms (5)
10:30-11:30 am Brainstorm based on assigned issue(s) and draft questions.
11:30 am – 12:20 pm Lunch Break
12:30-3:00 pm

Mock Voir Dire Practice

  • Participants engage in mock voir dire sessions to practice the techniques and strategies learned including acting as attorneys while others observe and provide feedback during the discussion.
  • 12:45 Jurors will arrive in breakout rooms.
  • 12:45 PM -3:15 PM Attorneys will conduct voir dire. Assuming 10 ppl per breakout room. Instructors critique individually 12 – 15 min/person.
3:00-3:15 pm Break
3:15-3:30 pm

Things to Consider in Pregnancy Loss/Abortion Cases

  • Dr. Jennifer Forsyth
3:30-5:30 pm

Working with and Cross-Examining Forensic Pathologists    

  • Lecture on cross-examination techniques.
  • Deja Vishny will cross-examine forensic pathologist and take questions from audience on techniques.
5:30 pm Seminar Adjourns
7:00-10:00 pm

Voir Cheers 🥂

Join us for a post-training networking social at “The Waiting Room.”  Two complimentary drinks and bar bites on us!

Faculty

  • Dr. Jennifer Forsyth, Associate Medical Examiner, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory 
  • Kevann Gardner, Supervising Attorney, Trial Division, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
  • Yveka Pierre, Senior Litigation Counsel, If/When/How
  • Laurie Shanks, Emerita Clinical Professor of Law at Albany Law School
  • Deja Vishny, Criminal Defense Consultant and Trainer
  • Lisa Wayne, Executive Director, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Scholarships

Need-based travel and lodging scholarships will be made available to a limited number of people from states with restrictive abortion laws.  Please contact Monica Milton at mmilton@nacdl.org for more information.

Code of Conduct

NACDL endeavors to foster a working, learning, and social environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and insult. To that end, NACDL has adopted a Code of Conduct for Affiliated Persons that applies to all attendees and participants of any kind at all NACDL sponsored events.

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