Chair's Video Welcome Message

The American Bar Association provides its members with a variety of interesting opportunities to improve the law in the United States and around the world.  I have been lucky to be a participant in a number of these initiatives.  But, I found that one of the most gratifying roles I have been able to play has been as a commission member and contributor to ABA President William H. Neukom’s World Justice Project. This presidential initiative to which Bill Neukom has devoted more time, energy and commitment than most people could imagine is based on the principle that the Rule of Law gives traction to efforts to address society’s gravest ills, including violence, poverty, corruption, sickness and ignorance.    

The Project consists of three related initiatives -- (1) multidisciplinary outreach conferences, (2) development of a rule of law index, and (3) a research program involving the very best experts who will examine the impact of the rule of law on countries.   The Project has brought together people from all walks of life and from all over the world to talk about what the rule of law means for them in their work and in their lives. 

Later this year, from July 2-5 in Vienna, Austria the World Justice Forum will bring together 500 governmental and non-governmental leaders from diverse disciplines from throughout the world to officially launch the World Justice Project as well as launch a new, multidisciplinary, multinational movement on behalf of the rule of law.  All of us involved in the Project are reminded daily that the practice of law has become more and more international in focus.  Those of us who focus on criminal justice may not always think in international terms.  But, the plain truth is that international issues that affect us arise with increasing frequency, particularly as the debate continues on how to fight a war on terror.  Within the Criminal Justice Section the International Committee focuses on many criminal law-related issues that have an international scope such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, international tribunals, extradition, rendition, transnational crimes, and prison transfer treaties.  

In May, a contingency of Section representatives will travel to Bilbao, Spain to take part in “The Comparison of Jury Trials and Mystery Art Theft” program.The Section is collaborating with the ABA Section of Litigation, and the Union Internationale des Avocats Litigation Commission and Art Law Commission to present a two-part event that will compare and contrast the American Jury Trial and Spanish Jury Trial systems through the eyes of seasoned judges and lawyers, and examine some of the more fascinating thefts and stolen art scenarios that have occurred along with a discussion on the international perspective of recovering stolen art and prosecuting the thieves.  All Section members are invited to attend.

Other upcoming Section-sponsored events focusing on the field of criminal law in an International context include The National Institute on Civil False Claims Act and Qui Tam Enforcement, the Second Annual National Institute on Cyberlaw, the upcoming conference focusing on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Money Laundering Conference.

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Health Care Fraud May 14-16, Fort Lauderdale, FL The 18th Annual National Institute on Health Care Fraud will provide a rewarding educational experience for health care attorneys, regulators, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and qui tam relators’ counsel.  This National Institute draws panelists, facilitators and participants from each of these significant interest groups and it offers unique opportunities to meet and share experiences and concerns in a non-adversarial setting. Date Other Upcoming Events  May 8 White Collar Institute, Tampa, FL May 9-10 The Comparison of Jury Trials and the Mystery of Art Theft, Bilbao, Spain May 21 U.S. Antitrust Law and Global Enforcement, Chicago, IL May 21-23 Federal Sentencing Guidelines , Orlando, FL June 11-13 Civil False Claims Act and Qui Tam Enforcement, Washington, DC June 18-20 CyberLaw: Expanding the Horizons, Washington, DC Aug. 7-12 ABA Annual Meeting, New York, NY Criminal Justice Section CLEs and Meetings

Resource from the Cyber Crime Committee: Top Ten Tips to Protect Kids From Online Predators

Resources from the Judicial Function Committee:

Innocence Projects Reports and Websites

Criminal Jury Instructions for State Courts

Recent State Supreme Court Developments Concerning Crawford v. Washington

Materials on Collateral Consequences of Conviction

 

Blawg Directory: Criminal Justice

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