Why Race Matters // April 28
See Something, Say Something: Interrupting Bias and Litigating Race and Trauma in the Courts
Speaker: Kris Henning, Esq.
Thursday April 28, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Developing the skills necessary to raise race in the courtroom is a critical component of your success in litigation. Join the author of Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth, Blume Professor of Law, and the Director of the Juvenile Justice Clinic and Initiative Georgetown Law as she works with us to develop the critical thinking, concrete skills, and tools we need to raise race in the Court. In an engaging and interactive style, Professor Henning will help us understand how racial bias, hyper-surveillance, and the traumatic effects of policing impact all our cases — juvenile, criminal, family court, and mental health cases. Together, we will develop strategies to interrupt the dehumanizing language, attitudes, and legal decisions that harm our clients of color. Continue reading →
Why Race Matters // April 7
Spotting Issue of Expert Bias in the Courtroom
Speaker: Dr. Itiel Dror
Thursday April 7, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Biases plague many domains of our life, and the legal system is no exception. Therefore, experts are heavily relied upon as their judgment and decision making is regarded as objective and impartial. Drawing from the field of criminal justice, I will present research and evidence from real casework that many different types of biases affect even experts, including fingerprinting and DNA forensic laboratory decision making. Continue reading →
Introduction to Why Race Matters // March 11
Client Centered Advocacy Speaker Series: Centering Clients Voices
Speaker: Abrigal Forrester
Friday March 11, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
This module introduces participants to the Why Race Matters: Client Centered Advocacy Speaker Series. This presents a unique opportunity for participants to gain an understanding of why the issues of litigating race and addressing systemic racism in the adult criminal, juvenile, child and family regulation and mental health legal systems are critical in representing clients. Participants will begin to uncover the reality that creating and fostering an environment of acceptance and inclusiveness creates better outcomes for our practice, our office, and our clients. Continue reading →
Why Race Matters // March 24
Racial Trauma: Clients, Court and Conversations
Speakers: Dr. Steven Kniffley and La Mer Kyle-Griffiths
Thursday March 24, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
In this session, participants will leave with a better understanding of racial trauma and race-related stress as well as the psychological and physical impact on their clients. We will explore how to assess these impacts on our client and gather the building blocks of a rich story of our client’s experience. Participants will learn some of the flaws that can appear in evaluations and assessments by other players in the legal systems impacting our clients. Finally, we will build skills and tools to mindfully discuss these experiences with our clients and other witnesses and to bring these stories to life at every stage of the case. Continue reading →
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Nov 3, 2021 14:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: YAD/PC Appeals/IP – Writing & Litigating New Trial Motions
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RpxKtmVkSAu8T0Dd0-l2CQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Nov 3, 2021 14:00 Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: YAD/PC Appeals/IP – Writing & Litigating New Trial Motions
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RpxKtmVkSAu8T0Dd0-l2CQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Chapter 278A Working Group Training
Cutting Edge Issues & Collaborations in Post-conviction Forensic Testing
Wed. Dec. 15, 2-4pm
Please join a training hosted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the members of the Chapter 278A Working Group, which includes the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory, the CPCS Innocence Program, the New England Innocence Project, and the BC Innocence Program. The following topics will be covered at the training, followed by an opportunity for Q and A with the panelists: Continue reading →
The Committee for Public Counsel Services’ Training Department is rebroadcasting the 4th Session of the Why Race Matters Speaker Series: Who We Are- A Chronicle of Racism in America on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 from 1-4:30 PM. Registration is now open. Please see the information below: Continue reading →
A morning & afternoon session are available —
Sept. 8, 4:00pm – 5:00pm
OR
Sept. 14, 11:00am-12:00pm
Both sessions will be the same training — please only register for one!
