Please join us at the CPCS Annual Training Conference on Tuesday, May 14, 2018, 8:00 – 5:00, at the DCU Center on 50 Foster Street in Worcester, MA.  Advance Registration is Required and we are almost to capacity with a few seats left.   REGISTER TODAY TO ENSURE A SEAT! 

The keynote address will include remarks by two exceptional speakers:

Dr. Yusef Salaam, a transformational speaker, has traveled the United States facilitating conversations about race and class, the failings of our justice system, legal protections for vulnerable juveniles, and fundamental human rights. His experience of being wrongfully convicted at age 15 as one of the “Central Park Five” for the rape of the “Central Park Jogger”, holds lessons for us all.

Vincent Schiraldi co-founded the Justice Lab at Columbia University, which is devoted to reducing society’s reliance the justice system as a solution to social problems through research, education, and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, policy makers, advocates and formerly incarcerated people. His projects include eliminating youth prisons, reducing the footprint and negative impact of community corrections, and creating a developmentally appropriate response to offending by young adults.

The keynote will be followed by workshop sessions on a variety of topics of interest to criminal, juvenile, child welfare and mental health practitioners.  At midday, we will gather to hear remarks from Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti. A boxed lunch will be served.

The Conference is approved for 6 CLE hours for all private panels.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.  We are almost to capacity – register TODAY by visiting the Eventbrite Annual Conference Registration Page by CLICKING HERE. 

The materials for the 2015 Annual Training Conference have been posted on the intranet.  To view or download, go the Training Library on the Training Units page and click on “2015 Annual Conference Materials.”  A hypertext link of all of the documents will open.  To see the materials organized by topic, click on @TABLEOFCONTENTS.htm.  A Table of Contents will open with hypertext links to all of the documents.

To avoid unnecessary waste, there will not be printed copies of the PowerPoint Presentations at the Conference.  (In years past we have thrown out hundreds of copies of unused materials).

Each year, the Committee for Public Counsel Services recognizes the work of individuals who dedicate their careers to overcoming injustice, and championing the cause of zealous representation and effective assistance of counsel for all. Please join us at the John Adams Courthouse on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. for the CPCS Awards Ceremony, where we will honor this year’s chosen exemplary attorneys, social workers, investigators, and professional administrative staff.  A reception will follow the presentation of awards. 

CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony J. Benedetti said, “This year’s event honors 11 outstanding members of the CPCS team. They are individuals who have made and continue to make extraordinary contributions to indigent defense. Not all are attorneys because CPCS realizes that zealous advocacy is only attainable through the best efforts of everyone involved in the representation of our clients. The staff and private bar receiving this year’s awards are the people who are the very foundation upon which CPCS has attained nationwide recognition and respect.”

This year’s honorees are:

• Peg Higgins, who is receiving the Jane Addams Award for Outstanding Social Work for her consistent and superior performance as a social worker who exemplifies a commitment to clients through advocacy, support, and dedication.
• Atty. David B. Paradis, who is receiving the Jay Blitzman Youth Advocacy Award for extraordinary work and dedication in ensuring that children accused of criminal conduct, or who are otherwise at risk, are treated fairly and with dignity.
• Atty. John “Jack” Cunha, who is receiving the Edward J. Duggan for Outstanding Service Private Counsel Award for his incredible service to zealous advocacy, which has made him one of Massachusetts’ most respected attorneys.
• Atty. Denise Regan, who is receiving the Edward J. Duggan for Outstanding Service Public Counsel Award for her unwavering commitment to the zealous advocacy of her clients and her dedication to the pursuit of justice.
• Atty. Jeannie M. Rhinehart, Atty. Kally Walsh, and Atty. L. Mark Watkins, who are receiving this year’s Mary C. Fitzpatrick Children and Family Law Award for being steadfast in their efforts and success in representing the child, the grandparents, and the mother in a case in which the Department of Children and Families tried to terminate the mother’s parental rights because of her developmental disabilities.
• Kerrie Antunes, who is receiving the Armand Goyette Investigator Award for outstanding investigative work in the furtherance of zealous advocacy on behalf of CPCS clients.
• Atty. Antoinette “Toni” Hall, who is receiving the Paul J. Liacos Mental Health Advocacy Award for exceptional legal advocacy on behalf of indigent persons involved in civil and/or criminal mental health proceedings.
• Atty. Andrew L. Cohen, who is receiving the Thurgood Marshall Award for championing the cause of zealous representation for the poor and the right to effective assistance of counsel for all.
• Dorothy “Dolly” Mele, who is receiving the Maura Mellen Administrative Professional Award for her limitless dedication and selfless contributions to the delivery of zealous and effective advocacy of CPCS clients.

 Please RSVP to Awards2015@publiccounsel.net.  

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