Defender Initiative Conference

901 12th Avenue,Seattle WA 98122

17 March, 2023

Description

It has been 60 years since the United States Supreme Court granted Clarence Earl Gideon’s handwritten claim for appointed counsel in a state felony case. With a lawyer at his new trial, Mr. Gideon was acquitted. This year, nearly 50 years since the National Advisory Commission developed the familiar caseload standard of 150 felonies or 400 misdemeanors per lawyer per year, a coalition of national leaders is publishing new workload standards that are dramatically lower. The Washington State Bar Council on Public Defense plans to recommend that the existing court rule standards be amended with the new national standards in mind. In this conference, we will explore both the progress that has been made in the past 60 years and the multiple challenges ahead as defenders work to improve the representation of their clients. We will discuss the new workload standards, how to develop a record to address race bias, and the new data collection of the American Equity and Justice Group. The new Director of the Washington Office of Public Defense will discuss his vision for public defense. Former defender and director of the Who We Are Project Jeff Robinson will discuss “Defenders as Social Justice Warriors”. And famed author David Guterson will discuss his writing about the criminal legal system with Federal Judge and former defender Tana Lin. Note: Washington State CLE Credit has been requested. Sponsors: Washington Defender Association Confirmed Schedule and speakers: 8:30 a.m. Welcome by Seattle University School of Law Dean Tony Varona 8:45 a.m. Bob Boruchowitz: Workload Developments and other National Developments 9:30 a.m. Larry Jefferson: New vision for state public defense 10:30 a.m. Break 10:40 a.m. Jeff Robinson: Defenders as Social Movement Lawyers 12:10 p.m. Lunch Break (lunch provided) 12: 30 p.m. David Guterson interviewed by Judge Tana Lin 1:30 p.m. Break 1:45 p.m. Melissa Lee, Jessie Levin: Developing a record on race bias 2:45 p.m. Break 3:00 p.m. Kim Gordon, Anthony Powers: American Equity & Justice Group - Developing and using data on assessing proportionality in racial justice in sentencing and other court actions 4:00 p.m. Selena Alonzo and Nicholas Holloway: Misdemeanor Attorney- Client Working Relationship Learn more about the presenters: Speaker Bios