Archives: 2024

When the Supreme Court established the right to counsel in Gideon v. Wainwright, it recognized that lawyers "are necessities, not luxuries."  In our necessary roles, the well-being of defense attorneys is even more critical in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.  The stress for defense lawyers has been compounded during this crisis, as we represent clients […]

Meeting with your client in-person is nearly impossible in the age of Covid-19.  What are your options for speaking confidentially with your client?  Is the government listening to your phone calls?  Is the video line really secure?  How do you speak with your client during a hearing if you are physically present in court to […]

Remote hearings seem here to stay, and we all need to adjust. This means figuring out new ways to question witnesses who appear on screen and not on the witness stand. Please join Assistant Federal Public Defenders Chris Frey and Robert O'Brien on October 28, 2020 at noon to learn how to impeach witnesses using […]

Please join the FPD for our annual SCOTUS Year in Review CLE on Thursday December 3rd at noon. This year, our speaker is distinguished attorney, author, and presenter Paul Rashkind. There is a little bit about Mr. Rashkind below.  To join us, please register at the zoom link below and you will be sent a […]

Please join AFPDs Amy Clearly and Wendi Overmyer on January 20, 2021 at 12 P.M., who will summarize important federal criminal opinions issued by the Ninth Circuit in 2020 via Zoom. To attend, you must register in advance using the link below. Upon registering you will receive a link unique to you, which cannot be […]

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Jan 27, 2021 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: 2020 Ninth Circuit Review for Habeas AFPD's Ron Sung and Martin Novillo will summarize the important habeas cases issued by the Ninth Circuit in 2020. Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_X0zMxXkYRrmdB4JCQlF7AA

Please join a panel of attorneys from every unit of the Federal Public Defender to discuss litigating cases in person during the pandemic, and all the new logistics you have to think about as you prepare for court. Feel free to send your questions in advance to me. I will be moderating our distinguished panel: […]

Often times the government resorts to the convenient but-your-client-said-yes excuse to save an otherwise illegal search. Given changes in technology, the media has unprecedented access to documented instances of sometimes aggressive police practices, and then the general public has unfettered exposure to these recordings. We must now question whether officer-initiated contacts are ever consensual in […]

The interplay between 28 U.S.C. Sections 2254(e)(1) and d(2) Presented by Jonathan Kirshbaum, Chief of the Non-capital Habeas Unit at the FPD Nevada, & Randy Fiedler, AFPD in the Capital Habeas Unit March 17 at noon via Zoom 2254(d) & (e) present deference to state court factual determinations, but courts have been inconsistent in how […]

The Ethics of Self-Interest: How to Defend Yourself While Always Defending Your Client Presented by Lori Teicher, First Assistant Federal Public Defender & JoNell Thomas, Clark County Special Public Defender March 25 at noon via Zoom As criminal defense attorneys, we are expected to zealously defend our clients against all accusations of wrongdoing.  But what […]