Panel Attorney Information

Panel Attorney Programs

Office of Defender Services Training Branch
Announces Free Seminar for CJA Attorneys

     CJA attorneys may now register online for two programs offered by the Office of Defender Services Training Branch. The Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense Seminar is a three-day seminar that will be held from August 12 - 14, 2010. The Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense is a one-day seminar that will be held on August 12, 2010. Both seminars will be located at the Trump International Beach Resort in Miami, FL. For a limited number of participants, some funding is available to provide financial assistance for travel expenses.

Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense Seminar

     The Multi-Track Federal Criminal Defense seminar is designed to offer in depth instruction in a variety of substantive criminal topic areas. This year's tracks will be in the areas of immigration, sentencing, fraud, forensics and computer crimes. The tracks will be presented on Thursday and Friday in a manner that will allow participants the opportunity to complete two tracks. In addition, the seminar will also include plenary sessions and small group breakouts addressing topics of general interest to federal defense practitioners.

Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense

     The Fundamentals of Federal Criminal Defense is an additional one-day track offered during the Multi-Track seminar. Specifically designed for new CJA panel attorneys, it will offer sessions on topics that every new practitioner should master. After participating in the Fundamentals seminar, attorneys are encouraged to participate in the remaining Multi-Track sessions on Friday and Saturday.

     Again, these seminars are free and financial assistance is available for travel expenses. More information about the programs may be found at www.fd.org. For specific questions about the substance of the program, please contact Eric Vos at Eric_Vos@ao.uscourts.gov. Questions regarding logistics should be directed to Jenna Shepard at Jenna_Sheppard@ao.uscourts.gov.  

Winning Strategies offers new and experienced panel attorneys the opportunity to attend presentations on criminal defense topics of interest in both large and small group settings. The presentations focus on the nuts and bolts of federal criminal practice including the sentencing guidelines, sentencing mitigation, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Sessions focusing on the impact of cases such as Rita, Booker and Crawford, and Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment issues are also included. In addition, participants can expect presentations on trial skills such as cross examination, defending gang cases and attacking wiretap evidence. Also included are presentations on the use of technology in the courtroom and an explanation of CJA guidelines and procedures.

Please visit the Office of Defender Services at www.fd.org to register.

Financial Assistance for Trial Skills Training

The Training Branch is offering financial assistance to eligible CJA Panel Attorneys who would like to enroll in one of the following criminal defense trial advocacy programs:

• National Defender Training Project      (2008 Public Defender Trial Advocacy Program)

• National Criminal Defense College  (multiple programs offered)

• Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy (Federal Criminal Defense Academy 2008)

• Western Trial Advocacy Institute (communication and trial skills)