Presenter: Mani Golzari, Training Director, Trial Division, PDS

Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues are a critical component of criminal defense practice. In this session we will teach you how to get the most out of your suppression hearing. Special attention will be paid to identifying potential constitutional issues and formulating corollary suppression arguments. Practice tips will be provided on how to more effectively analyze the legal concepts of search and seizure and custodial interrogation to conduct a step-by-step analysis to tailor potential arguments to the facts of your case. You will also learn how to convey this analysis during the suppression hearing so that the judge will clearly see how your client’s constitutional rights were violated.

Presenter:  Jessica Willis, Special Counsel for Forensics, Trial Division, PDS
                     
This class is an informative overview of what attorneys need to know about interpreting the DNA case files including whether or not the data supports the conclusions drawn by the government’s analyst. This session will explore methods to quickly identify mixture interpretations issues in the government’s reports and underlying data, as well as related evidentiary issues that affect the strength of the DNA evidence such as potential weaknesses in evidence collection, the chain of custody, and adherence to the lab’s policies and procedures.  You will also learn what to look for when deciding whether a defense DNA expert is needed to develop possible transfer and cross-contamination theories.

  ​Presenters:   Prescot Loveland, Supervising Attorney, Trial Division, PDS
                      Alison Lamb, Investigative Specialist, Trial Division, PDS
                     
Investigation wins cases. This training will focus on the critical investigative resources and approaches that can be deployed early and often in your cases. Maximize your limited resources through a methodical approach to investigation that takes advantage of the latest tools, technologies, and resources. This practical discussion will focus on integrating your investigation into case theory development, cross examination, and negotiation.

Presenters:    Talia Gilbert, Investigative Specialist, Trial Division, PDS
                        Alison Lamb, Investigative Specialist, Trial Division, PDS

Modern best practices embrace the attorney and investigator team approach to investigation. This session will focus on the team's available investigation resources for developing valuable information and material for courtroom application. The discussion will include how to investigate new technologies and digital evidence encountered in the modern criminal case and winning strategies for exploring critical resources that are a hallmark of the impactful investigation. Also discussed will be practical tips for overcoming common investigative challenges.