2006 Seminars

A panel of Judges will discuss several topics including Motion Practice, Jury Voir Dire, Probation Violations, and Getting Assignments. This session will be particularly useful to new attorneys just starting to take assignments.

There’s more to a conviction than sentencing: learn about the impact on child support and custody, education, housing, professional licensing, and more.  Expungement as relief from such consequences will also be explored.  Presenters are Terri L. Stangl, Executive Director of Saginaw’s Center for Civil Justice, and Miriam Aukerman, Soros Fellow at Legal Aid of Western Michigan.

Anne Yantus from the State Appellate Defender Office will discuss timely sentencing issues with an emphasis on changes to the sentencing guidelines. Included in her discussion will be issues often overlooked by trial counsel.  This seminar should help counsel to preserve sentencing issues for appeals.

Lavinia Ruckes-Ekong, Department Manager of Wayne County Jail Behavioral Health Criminal Justice Diversion Program, will provide an overview and details on the program, which works cooperatively with judges, attorneys, court personnel, community service providers and jailed defendants.  The program’s mission is to keep non-violent mentally ill defendants out of jail and involved in community-based treatment.  Attorney Phillip Thomas and associate, Stephani Judd, will provide the attorneys’ perspective.

Thursday, October 12, 2006, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, October 27, 2006, 1:30 p.m.

Learn how to effectively use technology in the courtroom.  Participants will learn the core concepts and strategies of Power Point to effectively and efficiently persuade jurors in their cases.  Each session is limited to 12 participants.  To register for a session, please contact John Powell by e-mail (john@sado.org) or by telephone (313) 256-9833.

Learn the “ins and outs” of Drug Court :  Former Circuit Court Judge and Present Director of the Drug and Problem Solving Court , William Leo Cahalan, will discuss the requirements, eligibility and goals of the program.  Judge Cahalan will also announce new court initiatives for retail fraud court and other new programs.

Thirty-sixth District Court Judge Donald Coleman and Attorney Gerald Evelyn will discuss preliminary examinations, including practice tips and strategies.

Bring your case to life.  Demonstrative Evidence is an important tool to illustrate and drive home your point. Defense attorney Mark Satawa will discuss why you should use demonstrative evidence and how to use it.  Theresa Webster from Evidence Express will tell you where to get it and how to introduce it.

In their traditional informative and entertaining presentation updating Michigan Supreme and Court of Appeals cases, distinguished Cooley Law School Professors Ronald J. Bretz and James M. Peden bring the “latest and greatest” from the “Supremes” and the “COAs.”

Wayne State University Law School Professor David A. Moran will analyze the decisions of the United States Supreme Court, from the perspectives of an educator and active Supreme Court litigator.