WDPAC PROGRAMS
WSBA CLE CREDIT:� The director will endeavor to enter�your attendance at WDPAC’s programs�very soon after the�program IF you�sign and provide your WSBA No.� Sometimes�attendees forget to sign in, sometimes their writing is illegible, and sometimes the director makes a mistake and skips a name.� The WSBA allows WDPAC to submit attendance only once so if you discover�that you have not been credited with attendance at a CLE program you know you attended, you can either submit your attendance on line yourself at the WSBA website or you can do it�old school and simply list the program on your hard copy CLE declaration.
To register for WDPAC programs send an e-mail to WDPAC@aol.com indicating your wish to attend, specify the program and date, and be sure to include your name, WSBA no., office address, and phone number.
June 19, 2010, 8:30 - 5:30, Spokane, WA.
Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center
CREATING A “TOMORROW,” POSTMORTEM ON A DEATH VERDICT
Hands On Deconstruction of a Real Capital Trial
And Small Group Analysis and Creation of a Defense for Life
Saturday, June 19, 2010, At Gonzaga School of Law, large court/class room. $60 tuition (includes lunch). 8:30 AM to approximately 5:30 PM.
At least 7 cle credits will be earned - it will be a long day with a work through lunch.
This will be a unique learning opportunity for everyone who is or intends to be part of a capital defense team. I am very excited about this format and the entire program. The difference in this program from the ordinary talking head CLE is the difference between watching the food channel and actually having a small group cooking session with a gourmet chef working WITH you - after the latter there’s a good chance you’ll actually be able to cook.
One very important focus will be how the victim’s family might have been approached through a defense initiated victim outreach professional (DIVO) . LaVarr McBride, PsyD, a DIVO specialist and professor of criminology at Weber State University. Dr. McBride has broad experience in the federal criminal justice system, having started as a federal probation officer, progressed to be a training specialist with the federal Administrative Office of the US Courts, Defender Services, and currently to victim outreach expert, in addition to his academic appointments, will explain the process and lead a group on addressing victims’ survivors as part of capital case representation.
“No Tomorrow” is a short documentary, made by two Academy Award winning documentary film makers, Roger Weisberg and Vanessa Roth. The film follows the 2007-2008 California death penalty trial, People v. Juan Jose Chavez. The film, along with digests of the actual trial and penalty phase transcripts, will be the foundation of this day long, hands on, capital training experience. After viewing the film and listening to a short panel discussion by our team leaders and Defense Initiated Victim Outreach professional, LaVarr McBride, and after receiving both an oral and written summary of key evidence presented in both phases of the trial, the audience will break into small groups led by experienced capital defense attorneys and, over a working lunch, break down distinct areas of trial preparation and presentation. One group will take the victim impact witness, the foster mother, another panel will take the defendant’s relatives and his personal history, another will take the playing of the foster care video itself, another will take on a closing argument for the defense, another team the cultural issues - you get the idea. Each team will then present its analysis of what was done in Mr. Chavez’ trial that resulted in a death sentence and the team members’ ideas of what might have been done to achieve a life verdict.
Brief summary of film: Mr. Chavez was convicted of killing two people by randomly shooting into a dance club frequented by his rival gang members. Also, he was convicted of killing a girl, Risa Bejarano, a week later, who the state alleged he viewed as a potential witness in the earlier murders. By bad coincidence, Risa had been the subject of an earlier documentary on aging out of the foster care system in which she was featured as a success story. The prosecutor used that film in the penalty phase of the trial. Risa’s foster mother testified on victim impact and she was very much for the death penalty. Mr. Chavez got life on the gang murders but death on Risa’s murder. Jurors were interviewed, The prosecutor was interviewed. The defense attorney was interviewed. Friends of the victim were interviewed. Family of Mr. Chavez were interviewed. Oh, and the Judge was Lance Ito of OJ fame.
To register, send an e-mail with your name, WSBA number or team role (mitigation, investigator, social worker, etc.), to WDPAC@aol.com. Send a check for $60.00, payable to WDPAC, to me at the address below, preferably by June 11.
Katie Ross, Director, WDPAC, 810 Third Ave., Suite 800, Seattle, WA. 98104 ,
(206) 447-3900, ext. 774
.