Course Description:

This legal education program offers criminal defense attorneys, public defenders, and legal professionals advanced trial advocacy skills and practical strategies across key areas of criminal defense and client representation. Participants learn techniques for effective cross-examination, handling forensic and digital evidence, litigating Fourth Amendment search issues, understanding systemic race and trauma, and navigating ethical duties.

Course Highlights:

• Advanced Trial Advocacy & Cross-Examination: Practical methods for conducting impactful cross-examinations of law enforcement officers and expert witnesses, confronting confirmation bias, and litigating motions in limine.
• Client-Centered Advocacy & Professional Ethics: Guidance on client communication during plea negotiations, strengthening attorney-client relationships, handling ineffective assistance of counsel (IAC/Machner) claims, and preparing clients for sentencing allocution.
• Fourth Amendment & Search Litigation: Strategies for challenging warrantless searches involving the odor of THC, CBD, and K-9 deployments.
• Forensic & Digital Evidence: Key concepts in basic DNA evidence, analyzing forensic nurse examiner (SANE) testimony, evaluating blunt force trauma, and navigating technical digital evidence like tracking and hashing.
• Juvenile & Family Law Intersection: Specialized approaches for addressing race and trauma in juvenile cases, understanding brain injuries, and utilizing criminal defense skills in CHIPS, TPR, and guardianship proceedings.
• Systemic Reform, Inclusion, & Practitioner Well-Being: Insights into jury selection strategies, post-conviction voting rights, trans competency, and practical techniques for sustaining personal well-being in public defense.

Referenced Case Law: 

• State v. Gallion, 2004 WI 42, 270, Wis. 2d 535, 678 N.W.2d 197
• State v. Lala, 321 Wid2d 292 (Wis App. 2009)
• State v. Petrone, 161 Wis.2d 530, 561 (1991) 
• Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978)
• State v. Mann, 123 Wis. 375 (1985)
• State v. Lalicata, 345 Wis.3d 342 (Wis. App. 2012)
• Stanley v. Illinois, 405 U.S. 645, 649 (1972)
• Sheboygan County D.H.H.S. v. Julie A.B., 2002 WI 95, ¶ 22, 255 Wis.2d 170, 648 N.W.2d 402 (citing Lassiter v. Dep't of Soc. Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 27, 1 (1981)
• Kenosha Co. Dept. of Human Services v. Jodie W., 2006 WI 93, 293 Wis. 2d 429, 716 N.W.2d 845
• Roper v. Simmons, 543 US 551 (2005)
• JDB v. North Carolina 564 US 261 (2011) 
• State v. Meeks, 2003 WI 104, 263 Wis. 2d 794, 666 N.W.2d 859
• Shelby County v. Holder, 2013
• State ex rel. McDonald v. Douglas County Circuit Ct. 100 Wis. 2d 569, 302 N.W.2d 462 (1981)
• State v. Fernandez, 2009 WI 29, 316 Wis. 2d 598, 764 N.W.2d 509, 07-1403
• * See list of the Big TPR cases to know under TPR Trial Attorney Protocol 2.0 (pages 12-13)