Seattle University’s Defender Initiative is Holding its 8th Annual Conference on Public Defense: Defenders – Effecting Change, for Clients and for the Courts

This year’s keynote speaker is Jeff Robinson, Deputy Legal Director National ACLU and Director, Trone Center for Justice, and former defender.Washington State has been a leader in public defense reform, with court rules limiting defender caseloads, Defender Standards requiring experience tied to the complexity of the case, and court rules setting a presumption of pretrial release without bond.

Yet many challenges remain. The conference provides an important opportunity for defenders and public defense advocates to share ideas and review and discuss cutting edge proposals.

This year’s agenda includes the following topics:Big Lawsuits and "Small" Crimes: National and State Developments

How Defenders Can Challenge Money Bail and Detaining Poor People Pre-Trial

Trying Cases and Making Motions with an Eye Toward Appeal

Juror Implicit Bias: The Race-Conscious, Not Color-Blind Approach

Alternative sentencing, diversion and restorative justice

Being Creative and Effective with Expert Witnesses-How to Find, Pay, Prepare, and Get Them AdmittedThe program will be held at Seattle University School of Law.  It will be accessible by webcast for those unable to travel to Seattle.

Registration information is available at https://law.seattleu.edu/continuing-legal-education/upcoming-programs/the-defender-initiative-8th-annual-conference-on-public-defense.