Presentation by Stephen B. Bright, Patrick Mulvaney and Melanie Velez of the Southern Center for Human Rights
Program Description
This presentation will focus on discussing three key areas:
- Race, Poverty and the Criminal Justice System
- Capital Litigation Trends, Developments and Crises
- A Need for Accountability and Reform: Georgia’s Indigent Defense Crisis and Rampant Abuse of Prisoners
Learning Objectives
Attendees will learn about the intersections among race, poverty and criminal justice, as well as recent developments and current issues in capital litigation, including judicial override, intellectual disability and the death penalty, and the need for effective counsel in capital cases. Attendees will also learn how far Georgia has to go in fulfilling the mandate of the Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright and how prison violence is running unchecked throughout Georgia’s prisons.
Format
This class will consist of a 120-minute session. The program will be led by Stephen B. Bright, Patrick Mulvaney and Melanie Velez, lawyers at the Southern Center for Human Rights and will focus on these topics utilizing recent cases, essays and reports.
About SCHR
The Southern Center for Human Rights provides legal representation to people facing the death penalty, challenges human rights violations in prisons and jails, seeks through litigation and advocacy to improve legal representation for poor people accused of crimes and advocates for criminal justice system reforms on behalf of those affected by the system in the Southern United States.
Agenda:
9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Continental Breakfast and Registration
9:45 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Race, Poverty and Criminal Justice
Featuring Stephen B. Bright
*This presentation will provide an overview of the intersection between race, poverty and criminal justice, particularly in the South.
10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Capital Litigation: Trends, Developments, and Crises
Featuring Patrick Mulvaney
*The presentation will explore recent developments and current issues in capital litigation, including judicial override, intellectual disability and the death penalty, and the need for effective counsel in capital cases.
11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
A Need for Accountability and Reform: Georgia’s Indigent Defense Crisis and Rampant Abuse of Prisoners
Featuring Melanie Velez
*This presentation will examine how far Georgia has to go in fulfilling the mandate of the Supreme Court’s decision in Gideon v. Wainwright and how prison violence is running unchecked throughout Georgia’s prisons.
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Q & A Session
Location:
Sullivan & Worcester LLP
1633 Broadway, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10019
This program is free and open to the public. Space is limited. RSVP to Ojen Sirin at osirin@sandw.com.
CLE Credits:
Sullivan & Worcester LLP has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York (11/08/12-11/07/15). This transitional and nontransitional program (appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys) has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the NY State CLE Board for 2.0 credit hours, which can be applied toward the Professional Practice requirement. Participants must attend the entire program to receive CLE credit. Partial credit will not be awarded for this program.
