EVENTS AND TRAINING CALENDAR - LISTING

47th Annual CPI Conference
11/05/2011 - 11/05/2011

47th Annual CPI Conference

Saturday, November 5, 2011

International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004

For more information
Please contact Sheila Willis at (202) 628-1200 or swillis@pdsdc.org .

Download the CPI Conference Information (PDF)

*** The program will allow 7 CLE credits for CJA Attorneys. ***

DC Safe Surrender 2011
08/13/2011 - 08/27/2011

DC Safe Surrender 2011: The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) encourages those with outstanding bench warrants in nonviolent misdemeanor and felony cases to turn themselves in through the DC Safe Surrender 2011 program.  The program will take place on three successive Saturdays – August 13, 20, and 27 – at the Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue, NW, Washington, DC from 9:30am-4:30 pm.  Please review the DC Safe Surrender press release and flyer for more details.

DC Safe Surrender 2011 Flyer
DC Safe Surrender 2011 press conference release

PDS has worked with the courts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other participants to ensure that individuals get due consideration for coming to court voluntarily.  PDS participated in this program in November of 2007, and we were very satisfied with the way our clients were treated and with the consideration they received.  Many people had their cases resolved on the spot, and most people went home that same day. 

PDS will be available at the D.C. Superior Court all day on each of the three scheduled Saturdays in August to represent individuals who do not come with their own attorneys.  PDS attorneys will advise people about their options and about the process and will represent them before the judges. 

If you have an outstanding bench warrant for a nonviolent misdemeanor or felony case, if you think you might have such a warrant because you missed a court date, or if you have a friend or family member who has such a warrant, D.C. Safe Surrender may be the answer. 

Criminal Defender Training Program - Summer Series 2011 (July Sessions)
07/06/2011 - 07/06/2011

Registrations are due by May 27, 2011, for June sessions and by June 24, 2011, for July sessions. Space is limited, so please register early to guarantee seating. Late registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis. Course materials will not be given out at the sessions, but will be available before each session on the web at www.pdsdc.org.

All sessions are free. Evening sessions will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Lunchtime sessions will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Please note that the doors to the building will close at 6:00 p.m. and that participants arriving after 6:00 p.m. for the evening sessions will not be granted entrance.

CLE credits are available.
Please note that the evening sessions will run for two (2) hours. The brown bag sessions will run for one-and-one-half hours (1.5). CLE credit will be authorized accordingly.

Download Summer Registration Materials (PDF)

Criminal Defender Training Program - Summer Series 2011 (June Sessions)
06/07/2011 - 06/07/2011

Registrations are due by May 27, 2011, for June sessions and by June 24, 2011, for July sessions. Space is limited, so please register early to guarantee seating. Late registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis. Course materials will not be given out at the sessions, but will be available before each session on the web at www.pdsdc.org.

All sessions are free. Evening sessions will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Lunchtime sessions will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Please note that the doors to the building will close at 6:00 p.m. and that participants arriving after 6:00 p.m. for the evening sessions will not be granted entrance.

CLE credits are available.
Please note that the evening sessions will run for two (2) hours. The brown bag sessions will run for one-and-one-half hours (1.5). CLE credit will be authorized accordingly.

Download Summer Registration Materials (PDF)

Decoding DNA: The Fundamentals of DNA Defense
06/04/2011 - 06/04/2011

Learn how to defend against DNA issues that come up in your cases or use DNA proactively to help your clients. Attend sessions on the basics of DNA science, mixtures, transfers, blood orders, consumption issues, recent court decisions, and defense testing. It all kicks off Saturday morning at 8:30 am. Register below.

There is no registration fee for court-appointed defense attorneys and investigators who practice in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

Community Reentry and Expungement Summit 2011 – June 2, 2011
06/02/2011 - 06/02/2011

SAVE THE DATE: 2011 Summit - June 2, 2011

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
WALK-IN REGISTRATION ON JUNE 2^ND IS ENCOURAGED.

Juvenile Behavioral Diversion Court (Brown Bag Session)
12/17/2010 - 12/17/2010

 On January 3, 2010, Family Court will begin operation of a new diversion program for youth with mental health issues in delinquency cases.  The Juvenile Behavioral Diversion Court will be presided over by Magistrate Judge Joan Goldfrank, who served previously as the first presiding judge of the highly-regarded adult mental health diversion court.   Please join Judge Goldfrank and representatives of the Court, OAG, and DMH for a brown bag session on Friday, December 17^th from 12:30-2pm in Courtroom JM-2 for a presentation and discussion of the new program.    

Download related documents: 

• AO-10-17
• Participation Agreement.
• Program Description - Eligible Offenses
• Program Description

 CLE available for juvenile and special education Family Court panel attorneys

Using the Internet for Legal Research (CLE Session)
12/07/2010 - 12/07/2010

Using the Internet for Legal Research (CLE Session)

Tuesday, December 7, 12:30pm
Room 3300, Superior Court

Please join Laura Moorer, Esq., Legal Reference Specialist, in the Board of Judges Conference Room, Room 3300, Superior Court, on Tuesday, December 7th at 12:30pm for a brown bag training session focusing on using the internet for legal research.  Laura will provide practitioners with an overview of legal resources available on the web, and advice for developing comprehensive research skills, and practical tips.  Attorneys are encouraged to share information in advance of the session regarding their access to Lexis/Nexis services, and email questions they would like Laura to address in the session to sharrison@pdsdc.org. 

CLE credit for Juvenile, Special Education, and CCAN attorneys is available.

LAA/PDS 50th Anniversary Celebration
11/18/2010 - 11/21/2010

LAA/PDS 50th Anniversary Celebration

November 18th –21st, 2010

Join the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia as we
celebrate our 50th anniversary with four days of special events beginning
with the presentation to PDS of the Southern Center for Human Rights
2010 Frederick Douglass Award.


Thursday, November 18th
Southern Center for Human Rights Awards Dinner

Friday, November 19th
Tour of “451 Indiana Avenue” Building
 (Now home of D.C. Court of Appeals)
& LAA/PDS Reception

Saturday, November 20th
Light Buffet Dinner and Dancing

Sunday, November 21st
Brunch

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

*This event is for PDS employees and its alumni.

46th Annual CPI Conference
11/05/2010 - 11/06/2010

46th Annual CPI Conference

Challenging the Law Enforcement Expert in Gun and Drug Cases:
Cross Examining the Unscientific Opinion

Friday, November 5 and
Saturday, November 6, 2010

International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004

Conference will be limited to 100 attendees in order to maximize participation during break-out exercises.

For more information
please contact Sheila Willis at (202) 628-1200 or swillis@pdsdc.org .

Download the CPI Schedule (PDF)

An Innovative Approach to Suppression of Statements in Delinquency Cases
10/17/2010 - 10/17/2010

An Innovative Approach to Suppression of Statements in Delinquency Cases

On Sunday, October 17^th, from 12pm to 4pm, the Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center will host a trial skills college.  Professor Kristin Henning, Co-Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic at the Georgetown Law Center, former DC Public Defender, and Co-Director of the Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center, will, along with other senior trial attorneys, lead a workshop designed to teach juvenile defenders new and innovative ways to litigate motions to suppress statements in delinquency matters.  Participants will have the opportunity to practice cross-examination and oral advocacy skills.  The training will include a discussion of recent Supreme Court decisions, such as Berghuis v. Thompkins, that have progressively undermined the Miranda doctrine. Participants will discuss strategies for a more vigorous application of the original Miranda principles when statements are elicited from children and adolescents and will consider the application of the Miranda principles to the school setting.

• Pre-registration is required.
• Space is limited.
• Trial attorneys who represent youth in delinquency matters in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico will be given preference.
• 4 hours of CLE credit is available to DC Family Court Attorneys on the juvenile panel
• MAJDC will update this web site if CLE credit is approved for VA, WVA, PR, and MD attorneys.

 
Online Registration has been closed.

Committed Youth: An Information Session with the DYRS Director and Chief of Committed Services
09/28/2010 - 09/28/2010

Please join Robert Hildum, Interim Director, Department of Youth Services (DYRS),  and Linda Harllee Harper, Acting Chief of Committed Services, DYRS,  on September 28^th at 12:30pm in the Board of Judges conference room, room 3300, Superior Court, for a brown bag information session on placements and services for committed youth, including an update on the Lead Entities.

Criminal Defender Training Program - Summer Series (July Sessions)
07/01/2010 - 07/01/2010

Registrations are due by May 28, 2010, for June sessions and by June 25, 2010, for July sessions. Space is limited, so please register early to guarantee seating. Late registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis. Course materials will not be given out at the sessions, but will be available before each session on the web at www.pdsdc.org.

All sessions are free, and will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m.
Please note that the doors to the building will close at 6:00 p.m. and that participants arriving after 6:00 p.m. will not be granted entrance.

CLE credits are available.
Please note that some sessions will now run for two (2) hours and that CLE credit will be granted accordingly. Those sessions expected to run for three (3) hours are indicated as such. Participants attending sessions designated as two hours that run longer will receive additional CLE time in half-hour increments.

Download Summer Registration Materials (PDF)

Criminal Defender Training Program - Summer Series (June Sessions)
06/03/2010 - 06/03/2010

Download Summer Registration Materials (PDF)
Click here for complete details