Criminal Justice

Habeas Issues

Plano, Texas, USA

Past Event

MCLE Credit will be available

The Center for American and International Law
5201 Democracy Drive
Plano, TX  75024

Online registration is closed.  Please bring your completed registration form to the door. 

Registrar: +1.972.244.3404
Fax: +1.972.244.3401
E-Mail: cail@cailaw.org

Overview

This program will focus attention on an area of criminal law practice that is too often not well understood, providing a deep dive into habeas law and practice from both the prosecution and defense perspectives. It will be useful both for habeas practitioners and for trial lawyers who want to steer clear of post-trial problems.

Download the Brochure (pdf)

For more details, download the online brochure.

Highlights

Please join

  • Michael Falkenberg, Attorney, Post-Conviction Writs Section, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
  • Brad Levenson, Director, Office of Capital Writs
  • Karen Wise, Assistant District Attorney, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
  • Bruce Anton, Partner, Sorrels, Udashen & Anton
  • Charles Reynolds, Judicial Staff Counsel, Tarrant County Criminal Courts
  • Baldwin Chin, Assistant District Attorney, Harris County District Attorney’s Office

for a practical discussion about Writ Practice. Topics will include:

  • How the Court of Criminal Appeals looks at writs
  • What to do and what to avoid
  • Simple mistakes that are too often made in writ practice
  • New case law developments in writs and actual innocence
  • What good writs (and not-so-good writs) look like - practical examples
  • The anatomy of an innocence investigation in a capital case

Tuition

This program is funded by a grant from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Thanks to this grant, the seminar is offered tuition-free to most participants.

Tuition-free registration is available for the following constituents:

  • Texas judge
  • Member of a Texas judge’s staff
  • Texas prosecutor
  • Member of a Texas prosecutor’s staff
  • Texas criminal defense lawyer who regularly represents indigent defendants in criminal matters in Texas State Courts
  • Sworn Texas Law Enforcement Officer
  • Texas law student working with a Texas Innocence program

Tuition for all other constituents is $50 (Habeas Issues) or $150 for both the Annual Actual Innocence Program and Habeas Issues.

Agenda and Faculty

8:30 am


Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am


Presentation & Discussion on Habeas Issues (Includes A 15 Minute Break)

Presenter:

- Michael S. Falkenberg, Attorney, Post-Conviction Writs Section Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Commentators:

- Baldwin Chin, Harris Co. District Attorney’s Office, Brad Levenson, Director, Office of Capital Writs, Charles Reynolds, Judicial Staff Counsel, Tarrant Co. Criminal Courts, & Karen Wise, Dallas Co. District Attorney’s Office

  • How The Court of Criminal Appeals Looks at Habeas Writs: What The Court Likes & Doesn’t Like To See
  • Practical Aspects of Writ Practice
  • Common Mistakes & Practical Examples: What Good Writs (& Not-So Good Writs) Look Like
  • New Case Law Developments in Writs & Actual Innocence

12:00 pm


Lunch (Provided)

1:00 pm


The Anatomy of An Innocence Investigation in A Capital Case
Brad Levenson, Director, Office of Capital Writs, will describe the investigation his office undertook in their defense of a death row client, Joseph Jean, which included claims of actual innocence.

2:00 pm


Habeas Practice from The Perspective of The Prosecution & The Defense (Includes A 15 Minute Break)

Presenters:

- Bruce Anton, Partner, Sorrels, Udashen & Anton
- Baldwin Chin, Post-Conviction Writs, Harris Co. District Attorney’s Office
- Brad Levenson, Director, Office of Capital Writs
- Charles Reynolds, Judicial Staff Counsel, Tarrant Co. Criminal Courts
- Karen Wise, Asst. District Attorney, Dallas Co. District Attorney’s Office

  • A Case Study of A Good Writ
  • Implications of New Appellate Rules
  • Effects of The Michael Morton Case & Law

4:30 pm


Adjourn

CLE Credits

MCLE Credit

This program is approved by the State Bar of Texas for 6 hours, no ethics. Course ID Number: 901297591.

In addition to Texas, after the program (if requested) CAIL will directly apply for course accreditation in the following states, as long as course materials and evaluations are not required: California, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Attorneys may be eligible to receive CLE credit through attorney self-submission in other states, as long as course materials and evaluations are not required to be submitted.

Overnight Accommodations

Hyatt Place Plano welcomes our guests attending Habeas Issues at The Center for American and International Law. We have set aside a block of rooms with a group rate of $90 for 7/24/14 – 7/25/14.

Please make your reservations by 7/10/14. Any reservations not received on or before this cut-off date are subject to hotel availability at the best available prevailing rate.

Book online at dallasplano.place.hyatt.com
Type in Arrival/Departure Dates
Enter Group/Corporate #: G-CL24
or
Call 888-HYATT-HP (888-492-8847) or 972-378-3997
Dates available: 7/24/14 – 7/25/14

Mention the group name: CAILAW Habeas Issues

  • A valid credit card is required to make reservations
  • Tax Exemption Certificates and Credit Card Authorization Forms may be faxed to our office at 972-608-4427 prior to your arrival.

Other Information

Cancellation Policy

Written cancellation must be received 5 business days prior to a program to receive a refund (Email: lgaspar@cailaw.org). After this date, no refunds, but substitution of attendees for this program will be permitted with prior approval. Registrants not entitled to a refund will receive the course materials.

Nondiscriminatory Policy

The Center for American and International Law does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status in educational activities, scholarship programs or admissions.

Privacy Policy

We do not sell or rent information to any outside parties. By providing your information, you will receive postal and electronic communications from The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) in accordance with CAIL's Privacy Policy. If we co-sponsor a program with another organization, information may be shared between the parties. All such co-sponsors will be identified on the event details and registration page. At any point, you can opt-out or unsubscribe by selecting either link at the bottom of each email or call us at 972.244.3400.