Upcoming Events
The following events may be of interest to panel attorneys and generally provide MCLE credit.
Upcoming Trainings by the Appellate Projects
Upholding Civility in Appellate Advocacy: Professionalism and Respect in the Practice of Law
February 19, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Remote
Hosted by: ADI
In this virtual program, ADI Staff Attorney Donna Chirco will discuss the definition of civility, its impact on our practice and advocacy, and more.
1.0 Civility in the Legal Profession MCLE credit is offered for this training.
Registration will be open up until 2 hours before the event.
Potential Issues on Appeal and Habeas in Sex Crime Cases
February 25, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Remote
Hosted by: FDAP
While many sexual offense cases can seem hopeless, there are areas where we can attack injustice and overzealous prosecution in order to try to bring some fairness back to this challenging area of criminal law practice. Join SDAP Executive Director, Jonathan Grossman, and FDAP Staff Attorney, Bill Robinson, for a presentation that will address a range of issues in sex crime cases.
1.5 hours of general MCLE credit and appellate and criminal specialization will be offered.
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions
March 13, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. | Remote
Hosted by: FDAP
Please join us for an online training on how appellate counsel can identify and address the immigration consequences triggered by a client’s criminal conviction. We are pleased to have Alameda County Deputy Public Defender and Supervising Immigration Defense Attorney Raha Jorjani join us for a presentation on immigration consequences and the tools available to post-conviction counsel when the client did not receive proper advisements from the court or counsel. Raha will also provide us with key updates regarding applicable immigration law changes put in place by the new federal administration.
1.25 hours of general MCLE credit and appellate and criminal specialization will be offered.
MCLE Programs Offered by Other Defense Organizations
Racial Justice Act Legal Updates
February 4th from 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
2024 was a busy year for the RJA! In this webinar, we will review the year’s appellate court opinions addressing RJA issues. We will also identify hot pending issues and provide tips on how defenders can respond to the arguments we are seeing from prosecutors, in both prospective and retroactive RJA cases, at the trial and appellate levels.
1 hour of MCLE Credit is offered for this training
The New Age of Sentencing Part 1: Aggravating Factors
February 11th from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
Learn the most recent statutory and caselaw updates in the ever-changing landscape of felony sentencing. From dealing with aggravating circumstances to preserving the best record for appeal, this lecture will provide you with the necessary tools to best represent your clients at felony sentencing. This is Part 1 of a two-part webinar series on recent changes in felony sentencing.
1 hour of MCLE Credit is offered for this training
The New Age of Sentencing Part 2: Enhancements and Beyond
February 12th from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
Learn the most recent statutory and caselaw updates in the ever-changing landscape of felony sentencing. From dealing with enhancements to preserving the best record for appeal, this lecture will provide you with the necessary tools to best represent your clients at felony sentencing. This is Part 2 of a two-part webinar series on recent changes in felony sentencing.
1 hour of MCLE Credit is offered for this training
Working with Prison Life Experts on Resentencing Hearings
February 19th from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
Prison life experts can play a crucial role in getting your client a favorable outcome at a resentencing hearing. In this webinar, experts Adam Mortera, Jose Nogales, and Domique Tanks will explain how their lived experience and expertise could positively impact a client’s chance for success. At the end of this webinar, attendees will have an understanding of what to look for in their client’s C-file to prepare for these hearings, will be able to identify ways lived experience experts can explain programming and prison life to judges, and how these experts can work with clients to prepare them for resentencing proceedings.
1 hour of MCLE Credit is offered for this training
Defending Against Developmentally Disabled Civil Commitments
February 20th from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Presented by OSPD.
Welfare & Institutions Code section 6500 allows developmentally disabled clients to be committed to the State Department of Developmental Services if they are found to be a danger to their self and/or others. While these petitions are not common, it is important that those working in public defense know how to properly defend against these commitments. In this training, attorney Charlene McKinley-Powell will provide guidance on how to litigate these hearings. At the end of this training, attendees will leave with a general understanding of the controlling law, steps to defend against these petitions, and guidance on how to communicate with developmentally delayed clients.
1 hour of MCLE Credits is offered for this training
Fundamentals of Competence – The Experts
March 7th from 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
This webinar will focus on working with expert witnesses in competence to stand trial cases. After this webinar, you will have a better understanding of how experts working for the defense, prosecutor or court may assess competency differently. You will gain skills to prepare your experts for the assessment and for any resulting testimony, including tools for planning the direct and cross examination of mental health experts addressing competence.
1.25 hour of MCLE and Legal Specialization Credit in Substantive Criminal Law and Procedure is offered for this training
On-Demand Courses
New Racial Justice Act Online On-Demand Course
OSPD is excited to open a new on-demand course on the Racial Justice Act. You will learn all the basics,
refresh your knowledge, and stay up to date on RJA developments! These videos and written materials have
been collected from around the state and are meant to help practitioners regardless of their experience in
litigating the RJA.
Participants are able to receive MCLE Self Study and Specialty Credit for their hours working on the course (up to 10-hours).
SVP Course
This course is intended for anyone in Indigent defense looking to learn more about Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) petitions and defending against these civil commitments. Those taking this course from start to finish can expect to spend approximately 9 hours to complete. However, registrants should also feel free to take this course at their own pace. Completion of this course earns 8.25 hours of general MCLE credits.