Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar

2023-07-23 13:00 - 2023-07-27 11:30 (America/New_York) | University of Florida Levin College of Law, 309 Village Dr., Gainesville, FL, 32611, United States
The University of Florida Levin College of Law and The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section proudly presented the 2023 Gerald T. Bennett Prosecutor/Public Defender Trial Training Program on July 23 – 27, 2023. View the event brochure here.
SUNDAY, JULY 23

1:00-1:45 PM—REGISTRATION
2:00–2:30 PM—Welcome & Opening Remarks
2:30–5:30 PM—Case Analysis and Voir Dire
5:30 pm–7 PM—Faculty/Participant Mixer

MONDAY, JULY 24

9:00 AM–5:00 PM—Opening Statements and Direct & Cross Examination

TUESDAY, JULY 25

9:00 AM–5:30 PM—Direct & Cross Examination of Witnesses and Faculty Demonstrations/Expert Witness Discussion

WEDNESDAY, JULY 26

9:00 AM–5:00 PM—Professionalism & Ethics, Closing Arguments, and Faculty/Participant Reception at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center Gainesville

THURSDAY, JULY 27

9:00–11:30 AM—Courts & Technology and Convocation & Awards

2023-06-23 12:30 - 14:00 | The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 33432
This event was held on Friday, June 23, 2023, in Royal Palm Ballroom X at The Boca Raton. The Criminal Law Section Selig I. Goldin Award and Criminal Procedure Rules Committee Joint Luncheon honoring 2023 recipient James E. Felman, Kynes, Markman & Felman, P.A., Tampa. Read The Florida Bar News story here.

James E. Felman has concentrated his practice of law in the defense of complex criminal matters and related civil litigation for over 30 years. Mr. Felman represents clients in federal and state matters in every phase of the criminal process — investigation, trial, sentencing, appeal, and post-conviction proceedings. He has represented clients in a wide range of matters, including allegations of bank fraud, health care fraud, mail and wire fraud, securities fraud, public corruption, environmental crimes, antitrust violations, synthetic/illegal drugs, illegal gambling, child abuse/pornography, and murder. Mr. Felman has also devoted a significant portion of his professional efforts to legal reform and policy work. He has testified on an array of topics before the United States Senate, House of Representatives, and Sentencing Commission, and has given more than 100 presentations on criminal justice policy issues. He is a Past Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the American Bar Association. From 2014-2017 he served as a member of the Steering Committee of the Clemency Project 2014. Mr. Felman is a graduate of Wake Forest University, B.A. cum laude, 1984, and Duke University, M.A. Phil. and J.D. with high honors (Order of the Coif), 1987. Following law school, he was a law clerk to Judge Theodore McMillian of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

2023-06-23 09:00 - 12:00 | The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 33432
The Criminal Law Section’s Executive Council meeting was held during the Annual Florida Bar Convention in Estate Ballroom II at The Boca Raton. The call was hosted through Zoom.

2023-06-22 18:30 - 20:00 | The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 33432
The Criminal Law Section’s Executive Council held its 2023 Awards Reception during the Annual Florida Bar Convention.
Thursday, June 22, 2023, 6:30-8 PM
The Boca Raton Royal Palm Ballroom I
The reception was open to all Criminal Law Section Members and Judges.
In addition to the Section’s member awards, three Florida law school students received the Criminal Law Section’s Student Scholarship Awards during our Awards Reception. Read The Florida Bar News write-up here. The cash scholarships are awarded to incoming third-year law students who have shown dedication to and interest in the criminal justice system as trial and appellate practitioners:

Haley Kinart, Stetson University College of Law
Skyler Jackle, Stetson University College of Law
Victoria Thacker, Florida International University College of Law

2023-06-22 09:00 - 17:00 | The Boca Raton, 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 33432
Criminal Law Update was held Thursday, June 22, 9 AM–5 PM, live (in person) at The Boca Raton and live video webcast with 90-day, on-demand access. Course number 7408. Read The Florida Bar News write-up here. The program is available to buy online 24/7:

Downloadable Audio
Online Seminar (On-Demand)
CD
DVD
Course Book (CLE credit not awarded)

Course number 7408 CLE Credit: 7.5 General, 1 Technology, 1 Mental Illness Awareness. Certification Credit: 7.5 Criminal Appellate, 7.5 Criminal Trial, 1 Immigration & Nationality, 7.5 Juvenile Law.
Featuring Justice Jorge Labarga, Hank Coxe, Roy Black, and a very special presentation by Justice Peggy Quince.
The program includes our traditional “updates”—on recent developments in Florida and federal criminal case law, new legislation, and legislation on the horizon, and updates in the all-important worlds of DUI and “crimmigration,” the intersection of our nation’s immigration policies and criminal justice systems.
To begin the morning, Justice Labarga shared the very personal story of his rise to the bench, and how things Florida criminal justice “look” from where he sits.
Our spotlight presentation updated us on the arrest, prosecution, and treatment of those suffering issues with mental health, brought to us by the statewide leader in the field, Judge Steve Leifman.
We also welcomed Professor Christopher Slobogin of Vanderbilt Law School on his latest—and most timely—work, Virtual Searches: Regulating the Covert World of Technological Policing.
Our afternoon session kicked off with the one and only Justice Quince, who spoke passionately on our mutual, professional obligation not merely to serve, but to rescue our democratic Republic.
We ended the day with the panel discussion of all panel discussions: the wise voices of our era, speaking blunt truth to power about “where we are” in Florida criminal justice, how we got here, and, most importantly, what are we going to do to ensure brighter, better criminal justice tomorrows for us all—featuring Justice Quince, joined by Roy Black, Judge Kevin Emas, and Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Carey Haughwout, and our moderator of all moderators, Hank Coxe.
SCHEDULE & PRESENTERS
9:00 AM–9:05 AM
Introduction
Professor H. Scott Fingerhut: Program Chair, Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Section CLE Committee, FIU College of Law, and H. Scott Fingerhut, P.A., Miami
9:05 AM–9:10 AM
Welcome
Honorable Samantha L. Ward, Chair, Criminal Law Section, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Hillsborough Circuit Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Tampa
9:10 AM–9:30 AM
Feature Presentation: Criminal Justice System Update
Honorable Jorge Labarga, Justice, Supreme Court of Florida, Tallahassee
9:30 AM–9:45 AM
Break
9:45 AM–10:35 AM
Case Law Update
Michael R. Ufferman, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Appellate Law, Michael Ufferman Law Firm, P.A., Tallahassee
10:35 AM–11:25 AM
Scholars Corner: Virtual Searches: Regulating the Covert World of Technological Policing
Professor Christopher Slobogin, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Law, Director, Criminal Justice Program, Vanderbilt Law School, Nashville, Tennessee
11:25 AM–11:40 AM
Break
11:40 AM–12:30 PM
Immigration Law Update
Linda M. Osberg-Braun, Florida Bar Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law, Osberg-Braun Immigration, Miami
12:30 PM–1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM–1:45 PM
Feature Presentation: Democracy at Peril
Honorable Peggy A. Quince, Justice, Supreme Court of Florida (ret.), Tampa
1:45 PM–2:35 PM
DUI Law Update
Fleming Kanan Whited, III Whited Law Firm, Daytona Beach
2:35 PM–3:25 PM
Spotlight Presentation: Florida Criminal Justice Mental Health Update
Honorable Steven Leifman, Miami-Dade County Judge, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami
3:25 PM–3:40 PM
Break
3:40 PM–4:55 PM
Wisdom of Ages: A Blunt Criminal Justice Discussion About What’s Going On in Florida and What We Are Going to Do About It
Moderator: Hank Coxe, Past President, The Florida Bar, Florida Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Bedell, Dittman, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe, Jacksonville
Panelists:
Roy Black, Black Srebnick, Miami
Honorable Kevin Emas, Judge, Florida Third District Court of Appeal, Miami
Honorable Carey S. Haughwout, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Public Defender, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, West Palm Beach
Honorable Peggy A. Quince, Justice, Supreme Court of Florida (ret.), Tampa
4:55 PM–5:00 PM
Conclusion
Professor H. Scott Fingerhut: Program Chair, Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Section CLE Committee, FIU College of Law, and H. Scott Fingerhut, P.A., Miami

2023-05-04 08:00 - 2023-05-05 17:00 | AC Hotel by Marriott Tampa Airport, 4020 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, FL, 33607, United States
Masters of DUI 2023: Top Gun Teaching for Cutting-Edge Advocacy was held May 4–5, 2023—Live (AC Hotel Tampa Airport) and Live Webcast. This program is a comprehensive, cutting-edge look at the prosecution and defense of alcohol- and drug-related vehicular offenses. Get ethics credit. Get technology credit. Learn from the Top Guns. And become one yourself.
Course number 6422 is approved for 15 General CLE credits, 3 of which may be applied toward Ethics; 1 Technology credit; and 15 certification credits each in Criminal Appellate Law and Criminal Trial Law. The program is available to buy online 24/7:

Downloadable Audio
Online Seminar (On-Demand)
CD
DVD
Course Book (CLE credit not awarded)

This year’s program promises to be our best yet and is designed for basic, intermediate, and experienced practitioners. Our top-gun faculty members—judges, lawyers, and industry experts—are some of the best legal and scientific DUI minds, all gathered to bring you up to speed on the latest in alcohol-related prosecution and defense, and to answer all of your questions on how to improve the quality of your DUI advocacy. Special thanks to Program Co-Chairs Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville.
Topics include primers on case preparation, issue spotting and motion practice, proper protocols for breath and laboratory testing, the ins and outs of Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles administrative hearings, collateral consequences of DUIs on professional licensure, expert trial skills instruction, spotlights on DUI with serious bodily injury and DUI manslaughter cases, a case law update, a special presentation on DUI ethics by Judge Roberto Arias of Jacksonville, and more. The 2023 Masters of DUI is a one-of-a-kind CLE program you won’t want to miss.
~ ~ ~
Day One: Thursday, May 4, 2023
9-9:10 AM
Welcome
Program Co-Chairs Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
9:10-10 AM
Case Law Update: Knowledge is Power
Leslie M. Sammis, Sammis Law Firm, P.A., Tampa
10-10:50 AM
Issue Spotting: Putting the Power of Knowledge to Work
Tara A. Anderson, Assistant Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Clearwater
10:50-11:05 AM
Break
11:05-11:55 AM
Preparing a Case: You’re Never Too Old for Homework
Keeley R. Karatinos, Karatinos Law, PLLC, Dade City
11:55-12:30 PM
Lunch (included)
12:30-1:20 PM
Good Things Happen When You File Motions
E. Michael Isaak, Isaak Law, PLLC, Tampa
1:20-2:10 PM
Spotlight on Ethics: A Judicial Perspective
Hon. Roberto Arias, Duval County Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville
2:10-2:25 PM
Break
2:25-3:15 PM
Technology and Practice: Analyzing the Death Star Plans
Elliott A. Wilcox, The Wilcox Law Firm, P.L., Tampa
3:15-4:05 PM
Professional Licensing Issues: Those Pesky Collateral Consequences
Kevin M. Griffith, McIntosh Law, Sarasota
4:05-4:55 PM
Ethics Panel: Staying Honest While Advocating
Moderator: Brian L. Tannebaum, Brian L. Tannebaum, P.A., Miami
Panelists:

Michael J. Kessler, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial, Kessler Law Firm, Ft. Pierce
Nicki A. Mohr, Assistant State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit, Tampa
Hon. Margaret R. Taylor, Hillsborough County Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit, Tampa

4:55-5 PM
Conclusion
Program Co-Chairs Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
~ ~ ~
Day Two: Friday, May 5, 2023
9-9:10 AM
Welcome
Program Co-Chairs Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
9:10-10:15 AM
Nuts and Bolts of Administrative Hearings
Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville; Thomas J. Moffett Jr., Chief Counsel, Bureau of Administrative Reviews, Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee
10:15-11:05 AM
Direct Examination: Every Story Paints a Picture
Timothy R. Bussey, The Bussey Law Firm, P.C., Colorado Springs, CO
11:05-11:20 AM
Break
11:20 AM-12:10 PM
Cross-Examination: Painting a New Picture
Mark Thiessen, Thiessen Law Firm, Houston, TX
12:10-12:45 PM
Lunch Break
12:45-1:35 PM
Breath Testing Issues: The Number is Just the Beginning
Robert N. Harrison, Robert N. Harrison, P.A., Venice
1:35-2:25 PM
Lab Protocols and Quality Control: You Mean the Analyst Report is Not Gospel?
Janine Arvizu, Certified Quality Auditor, Albuquerque, NM
2:25-2:40 PM
Break
2:40-3:30 PM
Motion Practice in DUI SBI/Manslaughter Cases: The Best Trial Lawyer is the Best Pretrial Lawyer
Robert S. Reiff, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Law Offices of Robert S. Reiff, P.A., Miami
3:30-4:20 PM
DUI SBI/Manslaughter Ethics and Trial Tactics: From Both Sides: When All Else Fails
John G. Kalinowski, Assistant State Attorney, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville
Aaron M. Wayt, Pumphrey Law, Tallahassee
4:05-4:10 PM
Conclusion
Program Co-Chairs Susan H. Cohen and David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville

2023-04-21 09:00 - 16:15 | Zoom
(6929) Navigating Juvenile Waters: A Closer Look at Florida Juvenile Delinquency Practice was held on April 21, 2023, from 9 AM–4:15 PM on Zoom, with 90-day, on-demand access. Course number 6929 is approved for 6 CLE, 1 Mental Illness Awareness, and 6 certification credits each in Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial Law, and Juvenile Law. Course Level: Intermediate. This program is available to buy online 24/7:

Downloadable Audio
Online Seminar (On-Demand)
CD
DVD
Course Book (CLE credit not awarded)

The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section is proud to present Navigating Juvenile Waters: A Closer Look at Florida Juvenile Delinquency Practice. This daylong CLE program on all things juvenile criminal justice provides an overview of the practice of law in Florida juvenile delinquency courts as well as an up-to-date report on the latest juvenile practices and procedures. Our expert presenters will explore the similarities between juvenile delinquency and adult criminal court, and discuss issues unique to juveniles, including risk assessment detention rubrics, competency and sanity evaluations and mental health treatment, direct file and other forms of discretionary juvenile-to-adult-court review, cross-over youths subject to both our child welfare and juvenile justice systems, imposing juvenile sanctions, including disposition reports, hearings, and commitment levels, and more. Designed for bench and bar alike, Navigating Juvenile Waters is a must-participate CLE program you won’t want to miss.

SCHEDULE & PRESENTERS
February 10, 2023

9 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome by the Program Co-Chairs
Hon. Angelica D. Zayas Miami-Dade Circuit Judge, Miami
Joel M. Silvershein, State Attorney’s Office 17th Circuit, Fort Lauderdale
9:10 AM – 10 AM
The Ins and Outs of Juvenile Detention Hearings
Tamara Gray, Assistant Public Defender, Miami Dade County, Eleventh Circuit
10 AM – 10:50 AM
New Juvenile Mental Health Rules and Procedures
Cheo A. Reid, Assistant State Attorney, Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, West Palm Beach
10:50 AM – 11:05 AM Break
11:05 AM – 11:55 AM
Nuances of Prosecuting and Defending Juveniles in Delinquency Court and Why They Matter
Tara Khani, Assistant Public Defender, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade
11:55 AM – 1:30 PM
Lunch (Provided)
1:30 PM – 2:20 PM
Dually-Involved Youths and the Intersection of the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems
Irene M.G. Maslanik, Board Certified in Juvenile Law, Assistant State Attorney, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Tampa
2:20 PM – 3:10 PM
Juveniles to Adult Court: Transfers, Direct File Review, Discretion, and Other Considerations
Travis J. Coy, Assistant State Attorney, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Tampa
3:10 PM – 03:25 PM
Break
3:25 PM – 4:15 PM
Juvenile Sanctions: Predisposition Reports, Disposition Options, and Disposition Hearings
Kywa Hammond, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Orland

2023-04-20 08:30 - 2023-04-21 17:00 | Live Webinar
FACDL’s Criminal Law Review & Board Certification Tips is a two-day, must-attend seminar for criminal law practitioners of all experience levels. Whether you’re a veteran criminal law attorney who has applied to take the May 12 Criminal Appellate or Criminal Trial certification exam or a new associate seeking training in this practice area, this CLE is for you. From testing tips and federal appeals to ethics and Florida sentencing, this cutting-edge program offers an array of topics that will enhance your practice and help hone your skills. The presenters are some of the most well-known and respected practitioners and judges in Florida. Hosted by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and sponsored by the Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar. CLE credit: General 16.5, Ethics 1.0. Certification Credits: Criminal Appellate Law 16.5, Criminal Trial Law 16.5, State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice 16.5.

FACDL Member $280
FACDL Member Government Employee $180

Non-FACDL Member $375
Government Employee $200 (email facdl@facdl.org to register at this price)

2023-04-14 | Zoom
Topic: CLS Executive Council Meeting
Time: Apr 14, 2023, 9:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86394409816?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 863 9440 9816
Passcode: [REDACTED]
One tap mobile:
+13052241968,,86394409816# US
+16469313860,,86394409816# US
Dial by your location
+1 305 224 1968 US
+1 646 931 3860 US
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 309 205 3325 US
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 253 205 0468 US
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 360 209 5623 US
+1 386 347 5053 US
+1 507 473 4847 US
+1 564 217 2000 US
+1 669 444 9171 US
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 689 278 1000 US
+1 719 359 4580 US
Meeting ID: 863 9440 9816
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcRxzj8UrQ

2023-01-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32819, United States
Executive Council meeting during The Florida Bar Winter Meeting in Orlando.

2023-01-19 09:00 - 16:45 | Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32819, United States
(6783) Advanced Federal Practice 2023—originally presented on January 19, 2023—in-person (Orlando) and live video webcast. Now available to purchase in online seminar (on-demand) and downloadable audio formats. Criminal Law Section members may purchase either format for only $250. Also available in CD ($225) and DVD ($280) formats.
The Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar proudly presents (6738) Advanced Federal Practice 2023, the Bar’s preeminent CLE offering for bench and bar adjudicating criminal cases in federal court. This year’s program features timely topics, from pretrial to trial, sentencing, and appeal, and presenters specializing in the intricacies of federal criminal prosecution and defense.
Featured topics include deep dives into federal forfeiture proceedings, recent Eleventh Circuit case law, district court issue preservation for matters in the appellate pipeline, theories of mass prosecution, and an inside look at the U.S. Sentencing Commission. We also are privileged to present a very special judicial panel on trying high-profile and emotionally charged cases.
Course number 6738 is an advanced-level program that is approved for 7 General CLE credits and 7 certification credits each in Criminal Appellate and Criminal Trial Law.

SCHEDULE (January 19, 2023)

9–9:10 AM Welcome
Margot Moss, Markus/Moss PLLC, Miami, and Marissel Descalzo Tache, Bronis and Descalzo, P.A., Miami, Program Co-Chairs
9:10–10 AM Pipeline Issue Preservation: Preserving Issues in District Court That Are Working Their Way To and Through The Eleventh Circuit
Lauren Field Krasnoff, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida
10–10:50 AM Eleventh Circuit Update: The Bad, The Ugly… Is There Any Good?
Tracy M. Dreispul, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida
10:50–11:05 AM Break
11:05–11:55 AM From 6/1 to 1/6: Theories of Mass Prosecution
Michael R. Sherwin, Kobre & Kim LLP, Miami, and A. Margot Moss, Markus/Moss PLLC, Miami
11:55 AM–1:10 PM Lunch
1:10–2 PM Show Me The Money: The Government’s Relentless Pursuit of Forfeiture
Steven R. Welk, Senior Counsel, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Los Angeles, California

2–2:50 PM Judicial Panel: Trying The High-Profile, Emotionally-Charged Case
Panelists: Hon. Roy K. Altman, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami; Hon. Paul G. Byron, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, Orlando; Hon. Raag Singhal, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale. Moderator: Marissel Descalzo Tache, Bronis and Descalzo, P.A., Miami

2:50–3:05 PM Break

3:05–3:55 PM Speaking From The Heart(land): Kathleen Grilli on the U.S. Sentencing Commission
Kathleen J. Grilli, General Counsel, United States Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C., and Michael Caruso, Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida, Miami
3:55–4:45 PM Anatomy of a Winning Defense: A Deep Dive Into U.S. v. Walton
Vincent A. Citro, Florida Bar Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Law Offices of Horwitz & Citro, P.A., Orlando
4:45 PM Conclusion
Margot Moss, Markus/Moss PLLC, Miami, and Marissel Descalzo Tache, Bronis and Descalzo, P.A., Miami

2023-01-09 11:30 - 13:00 | Zoom
Originally presented on January 9, 2023. UFFERMAN FILES Series Webisode 2: A Discussion on Race and Our Criminal Justice System. Free Zoom CLE for Criminal Law Section members; non-members register for only $30, which includes section membership. Course number 6767 is approved for the following credits: CLER Program (max credit: 2.0 hours)—General: 2.0 hours, Bias Elimination: 2.0 hours. Certification Program (max credit: 2.0 hours)—Appellate Practice: 2.0 hours, Criminal Trial Law: 2.0 hours, Criminal Appellate Law: 2.0 hours, Juvenile Law: 2.0 hours.
The Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar is proud to present UFFERMAN FILES, a series of important conversations and presentations on all things criminal justice, featuring host Michael Ufferman of the Michael Ufferman Law Firm in Tallahassee.
On Webisode 2 of UFFERMAN FILES, host Michael Ufferman will moderate a panel discussion on race in our criminal justice system. His distinguished guests are NACDL President Nellie L. King, ethics lawyer Brian Tannebaum (former FACDL president and author of “The Practice“), and criminal defense lawyer Brice Aikens (Florida Bar board certified in Criminal Trial and former division chief for the Orange County Public Defender’s Office). The panel will discuss if — and how — race continues to be a factor in our system, in areas including pretrial detention, jury selection, trial arguments, and sentencing. This 90-minute presentation will be both provocative and educational for prosecutors, defenders, and judges alike.

Each live Zoom webinar is free for Criminal Law Section members; non-members register for only $30, which includes section membership.

Michael is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Appellate Lawyer and author of Thomson Reuters’ Florida Criminal Practice and Procedure, a comprehensive guide to pretrial criminal procedure, investigation of criminal offenses, and stages of trial. Before private practice, Michael clerked for Justice Major B. Harding at the Supreme Court of Florida. He is a past president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a former board member of the Innocence Project of Florida, a current member of The Florida Bar’s Criminal Law Certification Committee, and a member of the Criminal Law Section Executive Council.

2022-12-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Originally presented on December 9, 2022. UFFERMAN FILES Series Webisode 1: A Lunch Conversation with Judge Alice M. Batchelder of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Originally presented on November 14, 2022, on this inaugural webisode of UFFERMAN FILES, host Michael Ufferman is joined for a very special conversation by Judge Alice M. Batchelder of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Their conversation explores a wide range of topics, including Judge Batchelder’s perspectives on our criminal justice system—and our courts in general—the process for selecting and confirming federal judges, and the importance of an independent judiciary. H. Scott Fingerhut, Moderator.
Course Description

CLE Course Number: 6766, CLE Hours: 1.0 General

The Criminal Law Section of The Florida Bar is proud to present UFFERMAN FILES, a series of important conversations and presentations on all things criminal justice, featuring host Michael Ufferman of the Michael Ufferman Law Firm in Tallahassee.

Judge Batchelder, who was considered by President George W. Bush as a potential nominee for Justice Sandra Day O’connor’s seat, has served on the federal bench for almost 40 years. She was appointed to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 1983, elevated to the federal District Court in 1985, and then to the federal Court of Appeals in 1992, serving as Chief Judge for the Sixth Circuit from 2009 to 2014. Their conversation promises to explore a wide range of topics, including Judge Batchelder’s perspectives on our criminal justice system — and our courts in general — the process for selecting and confirming federal judges, and the importance of an independent judiciary.

Each live Zoom webinar is free for Criminal Law Section members; non-members register for only $30, which includes section membership.

Michael is a Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Appellate Lawyer and author of Thomson Reuters’ Florida Criminal Practice and Procedure, a comprehensive guide to pretrial criminal procedure, investigation of criminal offenses, and stages of trial. Before private practice, Michael clerked for Justice Major B. Harding at the Supreme Court of Florida. He is a past president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a former board member of the Innocence Project of Florida, a current member of The Florida Bar’s Criminal Law Certification Committee, and a member of the Criminal Law Section Executive Council.

2022-11-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
The Executive Council met virtually on Friday, November 18th, 2022.

2022-10-14 09:00 - 17:00 | FL
Immigration Law Matters in Criminal Court: Everything You Need to Know About Crimmigration originally was presented on October 14, 2022, 9 AM–5 PM—Live, In Person (InterContinental Miami) and Live Webcast. Course number 6410 is approved for 7 General CLE credits and 7 certification credits (7 max) in Appellate Practice, Criminal Appellate Law, Criminal Trial Law, Immigration & Nationality, and Juvenile Law. The course soon will be available for online purchase 24/7 through The Florida Bar InReach as an on-demand seminar and downloadable audio.

If you’re a member of The Florida Bar who practices Criminal and/or Immigration Law, this program is for YOU. Our outstanding roster of presenters includes Federal Public Defender Michael Caruso, Detention Program Americans for Immigration Justice Director Andrea Jacoski, Southern Poverty Law Center Immigrant Justice Project’s Gracie Willis, some of the nation’s top criminal law and immigration law experts, and a special keynote address by United States District Judge Roy K. Altman.
Immigration Law Matters in Criminal Court: Everything You Never Knew You Needed to Know about Crimmigration is an educational must to fully appreciate the many complexities of how criminal cases impact and are impacted by our country’s immigration system. For criminal law practitioners and judges, it’s inevitable that immigration and criminal law and procedure will intersect. Our day-long program will provide in-depth training on key topics at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels of handling criminal cases having immigration consequences—for both prosecution and defense. You will learn the most up-to-date case law and legal arguments in pursuing the best possible resolutions for noncitizen-defendants facing criminal charges.
Special thanks to Program Chair Maggie Arias and Moderator H. Scott Fingerhut.

SCHEDULE9 – 9:05 AM
Welcome
H. Scott Fingerhut, FIU College of Law and H. Scott Fingerhut, P.A., Miami, CLE Co-Chair, Criminal Law Section

9:05 – 9:10 AM
Introduction
Maggie Arias, Arias & Pereira, PLLC, Coral Gables, Program Chair

9:10 – 9:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Hon. Michael Caruso, Federal Public Defender, Southern District of Florida, Miami

9:30 -10:20 AM
Crimmigration 101: “But I’m not an immigration lawyer….”
Dominique Pando Bucci, Pando Bucci Law, PLLC, Miami Beach
Adonia R. Simpson, Director of Policy and Pro Bono, ABA Commission on Immigration, Washington, D.C.

10:20 – 10:35 AM
Break

10:35AM – 12:15 PM
Crimmigration 201: When Criminal Cases Cause Immigration Harm
John Gihon, Florida Bar Board Certified, Immigration and Nationality Law, Shorstein, Lasnetski & Gihon, Altamonte Springs
Sean B. Mendez-Catlin, MC & J, PLLC, Orlando
Linda M. Osberg-Braun, Florida Bar Board Certified, Immigration and Nationality Law, Osberg-Braun Immigration, Miami
12:05 – 1 PM
Lunch (provided)

1 – 1:30 PM
Keynote Address
Hon. Roy K. Altman, United States District Judge, Southern District of Florida, Miami

1:30 – 1:45 PM
Break

1:45 PM – 3 PM
Crimmigration 301: The Ins and Outs of Immigration Court
Hon. Denise Noonan Slavin, Immigration Judge (ret.), Baltimore, Maryland
Gracie Willis, Southern Poverty Law Center, Immigrant Justice Project, Atlanta, Georgia

3:10 – 3:25 PM
Break

3:25 – 4:05 PM
Crimmigration 401: Post-Conviction Relief in the Immigration Context: Will it Help or Hurt?
Raymond Bolourtchi, Cofman & Bolourtchi, LLC, St. Louis, Missouri
Michael S. Vastine, Director of Clinical Programs and Professor of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law, Miami Gardens

4:05 – 4:55 PM
Crimmigration 501: Case Law Update
Mark A. Prada, Prada Urizar, PLLC, Miami
Rebeca Sanchez-Roig, Sanchez-Roig, P.A., Miami
Benjamin S. Waxman, Florida Bar Board Certified, Criminal Appellate Law, Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, P.A., Miami

4:55 – 5 PM
Conclusion
Maggie Arias, Arias & Pereira, PLLC, Coral Gables, Program Chair

2022-10-07 12:15 - 13:45 | Zoom
Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining is a Bad Deal—October 7, 12:15–1:45 PM—Free CLE for Criminal Law Section members. Live on Zoom. Presented by Carissa Byrne Hessick, Director, Prosecutors and Politics Project; Anne Shea Ransdell and William Garland “Buck” Ransdell, Jr. Distinguished Professor Law, UNC School of Law, Chapel Hill, NC, and moderated by H. Scott Fingerhut. Course classification: Intermediate. Course number 6515 is approved for 2 General CLE credits and 2 certification credits each in Appellate Practice, Criminal Trial Law, Criminal Appellate Law, and Juvenile Law.
Scholars Corner is a CLE series presented by the Criminal Law Section bringing you legal experts and educators from across the country to discuss their latest work and speak with us about matters that are critical to our delivering better, fairer justice for all.
“This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to tackle mass incarceration, by one of the country’s most thoughtful scholars.” ~ Rachel E. Barkow, author of Prisoners of Politics: Breaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration
The Criminal Law Section is privileged to welcome Professor Carissa Byrne Hessick to Scholars Corner to discuss her latest book, Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining is a Bad Deal (Abrams Books, 2021), which has been called “a provocative and timely exploration of how plea bargaining prevents true criminal justice reform and how we can fix it.”
From the publisher’s site: “When most Americans think of the criminal justice system, the image that comes to mind is a trial—a standard courtroom scene with a defendant, attorneys, a judge, and most important, a jury. It’s a fair assumption. The right to a trial by jury is enshrined in both the body of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It’s supposed to be the foundation that undergirds our entire justice system.
“In Punishment Without Trial, Professor Hessick shows that the popular conception of a jury trial couldn’t be further from reality. That bedrock constitutional right has all but disappeared thanks to the unstoppable march of plea bargaining, which began to take hold during Prohibition and has skyrocketed since 1971, when it was affirmed as constitutional by the Supreme Court.
“Nearly every aspect of our criminal justice system encourages defendants—whether they’re innocent or guilty—to take a plea deal. Punishment Without Trial showcases how plea bargaining has undermined justice at every turn and across socioeconomic and racial divides. It forces the hands of lawyers, and defendants, turning our legal system into a ruthlessly efficient mass incarceration machine that is clogging our jails and punishing citizens because it’s the path of least resistance.
“Professor Hessick makes the case against plea bargaining as she illustrates how it has damaged our justice system while presenting an innovative set of reforms for how we can fix it.
“Punishment Without Trial will change the way you view the criminal justice system.”

Carissa Byrne Hessick joined the Carolina Law faculty in 2016. She serves as the Anne Shea Ransdell and William Garland “Buck” Ransdell, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law and as the director of the Prosecutors and Politics Project. Her teaching and research interests include criminal law, the structure of the criminal justice system, criminal sentencing, and child pornography crimes. Hessick is the author of multiple law review articles, essays, and op-eds on plea bargaining, the powers and selection of prosecutors, Sixth Amendment sentencing rights, and criminal statutes. Her work has appeared in the California Law Review, the Cornell Law Review, the L.A. Times, the UCLA Law Review, and the Virginia Law Review, among others. She founded the Prosecutors and Politics Project in 2018. And she currently serves as the Reporter for the ABA Criminal Justice Section’s Sentencing Standards Task Force.
Hessick attended Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal and winner of the Potter Stewart Prize for the Morris Tyler Moot Court of Appeals. After graduating from law school, she clerked for Judge Barbara S. Jones on the Southern District of New York and for Judge A. Raymond Randolph on the D.C. Circuit. She also worked as a litigation associate at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York City. Before joining the faculty at Carolina Law, Hessick taught on the faculties at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law. She also spent two years as a Climenko Fellow at Harvard Law School.

2022-09-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Stetson Law Center, 1700 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
POSTPONED DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. We will notify you when this program is rescheduled.
(6209) Misdemeanor Madness 2022—September 30, 9 AM–5 PM—Live (Stetson Tampa Law Center) and Live Webcast.
Don’t miss this! The Criminal Law Section is proud to present Misdemeanor Madness, a must-attend CLE for all county court practitioners—state and defense—that will benefit misdemeanor lawyers of all experience levels. *In-person at Stetson Tampa Law Center and live webcast.* Criminal Law Section members register for only $205.
The program covers navigating direct and cross-examinations; misdemeanor driver license consequences; error preservation and other misdemeanor matters on appeal; presentation of computer, audio/video, and cell phone forensic experts in county court; best practices on negotiating misdemeanor cases to resolution; a case law update; and a special judicial panel discussing misdemeanor ethics, civility, and professionalism.
Course 6209 is approved for 8 General CLE credits, .5 of which may be applied toward Ethics; 1.5 Technology and .5 Professionalism. Certification Program (max credit: 8.0 hours): 8 credits each in Appellate Practice, Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial Law and Juvenile Law.
In-person live event: REGISTER

Criminal Law Section member – $205
Non-section member – $235
Full-time law college faculty/student – $138
Fee waiver – $40 (Requires discount code). Must meet qualifications. For more information, email accounting@floridabar.org.

Live Webcast: REGISTER

Criminal Law Section member – $255
Non-section member – $285

SCHEDULE
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome
L. Lee Lockett, Program Chair, Jacksonville Beach
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
Case Law Update – With a Misdemeanor Twist
E. Michael Isaak, Tampa
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
A Discussion of County Court Decorum: Misdemeanor Ethics, Civility and Professionalism — Pet Peeves and Dos and Don’ts
Moderator: L. Lee Lockett
Panelists:
Hon. Kelly E. Eckley-Moulder, County Court Judge, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville
Hon. Erika Quartermaine, County Court Judge, 12th Judicial Circuit, Sarasota
Hon. Kerra A. Smith, County Court Judge, First Judicial Circuit, Pensacola
11:00 AM – 11:10 AM
Break
11:10 AM – 12:15 PM
Tips From the Top: Suspension, Cancellation, Revocation, and Disqualification: An Important Discussion on Understanding Misdemeanor Driver License Consequences
Tom Moffett, Deputy Chief Counsel, FLDHSMV, Tallahassee
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
Navigating Direct and Cross Examinations for Some of County Court’s Most Frequently Called Witnesses
Elliott A. Wilcox, Tampa
1:50 PM – 2:40 PM
Misdemeanor Matters on Appeal: Proper Issue Preservation When Moving Beyond County Court
Michael R. Ufferman, Tallahassee
2:40 PM – 2:55 PM
Break
2:55 PM – 4:05 PM
Yes, You Can Use Experts in County Court, Too: A Conversation About Computer, Audio/Video, and Cell Phone Forensics
Andrew Garrett, CEO, Garrett Discovery, Orlando: eDiscovery/Computer/Mobile/Video/Audio Expert
Brian Bowman, Midwest Lab Director, Garrett Discovery, Orlando: Forensic Expert
Anthony Nelson, Garrett Discovery, Orlando: Audio and Video Forensic Expert
4:05 PM – 5:00 PM
Best Practices to Negotiate Cases in County Court: A Discussion on When, Where, and How to Get Case Resolution Going
AnneMarie R. Rizzo, Sarasota

2022-09-16 09:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
The CLS Executive Council will meet virtually on September 16, 2022. The Zoom will open at 8:30 AM for virtual coffee and connecting. The meeting will begin at 9 AM.
Click here to register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We hope to see you online.

2022-06-24 12:30 - 14:00 | Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln, Orlando, FL, 32821, United States
Friday, June 24, 12:30–2:00 PM Selig I. Goldin Award Luncheon. We will be honoring Professor Jennifer Zedalis of the University of Florida Levin College of Law with the 2022 Selig I. Goldin Memorial Award. Registration for the luncheon is through the Annual Florida Bar Convention, and seating is limited. The luncheon will be held in the Floridian Ballroom Salon F, which is on the lobby level. Registration for the luncheon is required.
Jennifer M. Zedalis is the Director of Trial Practice at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and an Assistant Director of the Criminal Justice Center. She is the Co-Chair of the Gerald T. Bennett Public Defender/Prosecutor Trial Program and has served on the PPD faculty for 24 years. She teaches trial practice, pretrial practice, and intro to lawyering, and has also taught mental health litigation and the criminal defense clinic. She is the faculty advisor for the trial team. She serves as Chair of the Peter T. Fay Jurist in Residence Program. She has practiced criminal defense for thirty years and continues to do pro bono trial work as time permits. She was formerly an assistant public defender in the Fifth and Eighth Judicial Circuits and ran a solo law practice from 1998 to 2003. She has handled all types of criminal cases, including capital cases, appeals, and post-conviction proceedings in addition to trials. She has lectured in the United Kingdom, Poland, and Costa Rica in the areas of American trial procedure, evidence, and criminal practice. She has been called as an expert in Florida criminal law in the Canadian Court of Immigration, and her article on “Justice Worthy Closing Arguments” has been published by the ABA Trial Evidence Committe

2022-06-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln, Orlando, FL, 32821, United States
Friday, June 24, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM CLS Executive Council Meeting. The meeting will take place in Dade which is on the lower level. You do not have to register for the Annual Florida Bar Convention to attend the meeting.

2022-06-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, 14100 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln, Orlando, FL, 32821, United States
Thursday, June 23, 6:30–8:00 PM Scholarship Awards Reception honoring the two recipients of the Criminal Law Section’s inaugural Student Scholarship Awards. The cash scholarship is awarded to incoming third-year law students at Florida law schools who have shown dedication to and interest in the criminal justice system as trial and appellate practitioners. The CLS Awards Committee narrowed down the batch of nearly two dozen applicants to just five on which the Executive Council could vote. Students Gina Calta (Nova Southeastern University) and Peter Chan (University of Florida) were chosen for the scholarship awards. The reception is in the Lake meeting room, which is on the ground floor, and the awards presentation starts at 7:00 PM.

2022-05-05 09:00 - 2022-05-06 16:00 | Floridian Palace Hotel, 905 N Florida Ave., Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
(5586) Masters of DUI 2022—May 5-6, 2022—Live (Tampa) and live webcast.
The 2022 edition of the Criminal Law Section’s Masters of DUI CLE is back in-person—for two days at the lovely Floridan Palace Hotel in Tampa—and promises a comprehensive, cutting-edge look at the prosecution and defense of alcohol- and drug-related vehicular offenses.
Designed for basic, intermediate, and experienced practitioners alike, our Masters of DUI faculty of judges, lawyers, and industry experts are as knowledgeable as they are balanced, presenting you with what you need to know from the perspective of both state and defense. Topics to be addressed include breath and blood testing, pretrial motions, cross-examination, marijuana DUIs, and accident reconstruction. In addition, of particular interest are our presentations on the all-important client interview, the administrative hearing process, writs of certiorari, and how to navigate serious bodily injury and death cases. All of this, and our all-star ethics panel, make the 2022 Masters of DUI a CLE event you won’t want to miss. Join us and register today!
REGISTER for course number 5586:
Course classification: Advanced
CLER Program (max credit: 15.0 hours)
General: 15.0 hours
Ethics: 1.0 hours
Certification Program (max credit: 9.0 hours)
Appellate Practice: 15.0 hours
Criminal Appellate: 15.0 hours
Criminal Trial Law: 15.0 hours
Juvenile Law: 15.0 hours
In-person live event: Register here

Criminal Law section member – $430
Non-section member – $455
Full-time law college faculty/student – $273
Fee waiver – $90** (Requires discount code)

** Must meet qualifications. For more information, email accounting@floridabar.org.
Live Webcast: Register here

Criminal Law section member – $480
Non-section member – $505

Other Formats

Audio CD – Purchase here
Video DVD – Purchase here

Day 1: May 5, 2022
9:00 am – 9:10 am
Welcome
Susan Z. Cohen, Program Co-Chair, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
David M. Robbins, Program Co-Chair, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
9:10 am – 10:00 am
Case Law Update
Tara A. Anderson, Assistant Public Defender, Supervisor of County Court, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Clearwater
10:00 am – 10:50 am
My Client Was in a Crash and Blew a .18. Where Do I Begin? The Client Interview
Susan Z. Cohen, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
10:50 am – 11:05 am
Break
11:05 am – 11:55 am
Good Things Happen When You File Motions
E. Michael Isaak, Isaak Law, PLLC, Tampa
11:55 am – 12:25 pm
Lunch
12:25 pm – 1:15 pm
The Judicial Perspective
Hon. Deborah Carpenter-Toye, 17th Judicial Circuit County Court Judge, Fort Lauderdale
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Marijuana DUIs
Ronald L. Moore, Forensic Toxicologist, Impaired Driving Toxicology, Inc., Lake Forest, California
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm
Break
2:30 pm – 3:20 pm
Breath Testing Issues
Robert N. Harrison, Robert N. Harrison, P.A., Venice
3:20 pm – 4:10 pm
The Nitty-Gritty of Accident Reconstruction
Sarah-Anne Blades, Accident Investigator and Traffic Accident Reconstructionist, Owner, Blades Consulting Group, Miami
4:10 pm – 5:00 pm
Ethical Dilemmas in DUI Practice
Moderator: Brian L. Tannebaum, Tannebaum Law, Miami
Panelists:
Stephanie Pizarro, Deputy Chief, State Attorney’s Office, 13th Judicial Circuit, Tampa
Hon. Samantha L. Ward, 13th Judicial Circuit Court Judge, Tampa

5:00 pm
Conclusion
Susan Z. Cohen, Program Co-Chair
David M. Robbins, Program Co-Chair
Day 2: May 6, 2022
9:00 am – 9:10 am
Welcome
Susan Z. Cohen, Program Co-Chair, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
David M. Robbins, Program Co-Chair, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
9:10 am – 10:00 am
Nuts and Bolts of the Administrative Suspension
Susan Z. Cohen, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
David M. Robbins, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
10:00 am – 10:50 am
When the Nuts and Bolts Don’t Prevail: Petitions for Writ of Certiorari
Susan Z. Cohen, Epstein & Robbins, Jacksonville
10:50 am – 11:05 am
Break
11:05 am – 11:55 am
The Administrative Process — Tales From the Other Side
Tom Moffett, Chief Counsel, Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee
11:55 am – 12:25 pm
Lunch
12:25 pm – 1:15 pm
Blood Testing: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Mark Thiessen, Board Certified in Criminal Trial (by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization), Thiessen Law Firm, Houston, Texas
1:15 pm – 2:05 pm
Taking Charge of the Witness During Cross Examination
Keeley Karatinos, Karatinos Law, PLLC, Dade City
2:05 pm – 2:20 pm
Break
2:20 pm – 3:10 pm
Case Evaluation in Serious Bodily Injury and Death Cases
Michael J. Kessler, Board Certified in Criminal Trial Law, Kessler Law Firm, Fort Pierce
3:10 pm – 4:00 pm
Trial Strategies in Serious Bodily Injury and Death Cases — From Both Sides
John G. Kalinowski, Assistant State Attorney, Director of County Court/Traffic Homicide, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville
Aaron M. Wayt, Senior Trial Associate, Pumphrey Law, Tallahassee
4:00 pm
Conclusion
Susan Z. Cohen, Program Co-Chair
David M. Robbins, Program Co-Chair

"Wine" Down Wednesday
2022-04-27 18:00 | Zoom
Join us for “Wine” Down Wednesday, a virtual Criminal Law Section Happy Hour.
The first 20 people to register will win a $10 Total Wine gift card!

2022-04-13 12:15 - 13:50 | FL
(5759) Practical Concerns—April 13, 2022, 12:15 PM – 1:50 PM, Live GoToWebinar. Part 2 of a two-part series on electronic information in criminal proceedings. CLE Credits: 2 General; 1 Technology. Certification credits: 2 Juvenile Law, 2 Appellate Practice, 2 Criminal Appellate, 2 Criminal Trial. Live GoToWebinar presented by Ronald J. Hedges, Senior Counsel, Dentons US, LLP, New York, New York; and Hon. Milton Hirsch, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge, Miami. Moderated by H. Scott Fingerhut. Registrants have 90-day, on-demand access. REGISTER
*Register for Part 1 and Part 2 of the Electronic Information in Criminal Proceedings Series by March 9 to receive $15 off the total registration fee.*
In Part 2 of this series, our presenters will cover electronic information issues involving discovery, cooperation between prosecution and defense in production and review, evidentiary preservation and spoliation, and the pros and cons of admissibility, including the weight to be given by the trier of fact.
Background on the series: Electronic information of ever-expanding varieties and volumes is, without question, a common feature of criminal investigations and proceedings today. More and more, electronic information is used in the commission of crimes and thus has become the focus of law enforcement investigations, prosecutions, and defense.
As a result, the collection and search of electronic information may implicate the Warrant Requirement of the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, the Sixth Amendment right of confrontation, and their Florida counterparts. In addition, electronic information may raise evidentiary issues of preservation and spoliation, as well as discovery obligations, “cooperation” between prosecution and defense, and, ultimately, admissibility.
In this two-part program, expert lawyers and veteran presenters, Ronald Hedges, former United States Magistrate Judge and now Senior Counsel with Dentons US LLP, and Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch, will explore timely topics about electronic information and suggest strategies that might be useful to both prosecutors and defense counsel.
Each presentation complements the other. For the busy practitioner who may wish to focus on particular topics, each session can stand alone.

2022-04-08 09:00 - 16:30 | FIU College of Law, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL, 33199
Please join us—on the beautiful FIU Law campus in Miami, or by video webcast—for the 2022 Criminal Law Update, featuring our very special guest, Justice Peggy A. Quince, who will speak on threats to the independence, fairness, and impartiality of Florida’s judiciary.
Course 5623 credits: 1 Bias Elimination, 7 Juvenile Law, 1 Technology, 7 General, 7 Appellate Practice, 7 Criminal Appellate, 7 Criminal Trial. Section members register for only $250 (live webcast) or $200 (in person).
This year’s program also presents the latest case law, juvenile sentencing, and immigration updates, a rundown of significant laws recently enacted by the Florida Legislature, and criminal justice perspectives from leaders across the state, including the Florida Conferences of Circuit and County Judges, Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Florida Public Defender Association, Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and our Criminal Law Section. In addition, we are privileged to include in our program a demonstration of the Equity in Sentencing Analysis System (ESAS®)—”the criminal justice equalizer”—a groundbreaking software tool designed to eliminate unjust disparities in sentencing.
9:00 AM – 9:05 AM
Introduction
Professor H. Scott Fingerhut, FIU College of Law and H. Scott Fingerhut, P.A., Miami
9:05 AM – 9:10 AM
Welcome
Antony Page, Dean and FIU Foundation Professor of Law, FIU College of Law, Miami
9:10 AM – 9:20 AM
Message From the Chair
Jason B. Blank, Chair, Criminal Law Section, Haber Blank, LLP, Fort Lauderdale
9:20 AM – 10:10 AM
Florida Case Law Update
Megan Long, Chief, Appellate Division, Law Office of Jessica J. Yeary, Public Defender, 2nd Judicial Circuit, Tallahassee
10:10 AM – 11:00 AM
Juvenile Spotlight: Ten Years After Miller v. Alabama: Case Law Overview and Update
Roseanne Eckert, Board Certified in Criminal Trial, The Eckert Law Firm, Orlando
11:00 AM – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Spotlight Presentation: Fostering True Justice: The Equity in Sentencing Analysis System (ESAS®): What It Is and How It Works
A. Wellington “Al” Barlow, Technologies for Justice, Jacksonville
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch (provided)
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Feature Presentation: “Do We Have An Independent, Fair, and Impartial Judiciary?”
Justice Peggy A. Quince, Tampa, Florida Supreme Court (ret.)
1:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Break
1:45 PM – 1:55 PM
Message from the Circuit Bench
Hon. Nicholas Thompson, Chair-Elect, Florida Conference of Circuit Judges, Lee County Circuit Judge, 20th Judicial Circuit, Fort Myers
1:55 PM – 2:05 PM
Message from the County Bench
Hon. Thomas P. Thompson III, President, Conference of County Court Judges of Florida, Marion County Court Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit, Ocala

2:05 PM – 2:15 PM
Message from the State
Garett Berman, Executive Director, Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, Tallahassee
2:15 PM – 2:25 PM
Message from the Defense (Public)
Rex Dimmig, President, Florida Public Defender Association, Public Defender, 10th Judicial Circuit, Lakeland
2:25 PM – 2:35 PM
Message from the Defense (Regional Counsel)
Ita M. Neymotin, Regional Conflict Counsel, Second Region of Florida, Fort Myers
2:35 PM – 2:45 PM
Message from the Defense (Private)
Jude M. Faccidomo, President, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Ratzan & Faccidomo LLC, Miami
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
Break
3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Immigration Update
Linda Osberg-Braun, Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law, Osberg-Braun Immigration, Miami
3:50 PM – 4:30 PM
Legislative Update
Professor H. Scott Fingerhut, Miami
4:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Conclusion
Professor H. Scott Fingerhut, Miami

2022-03-09 12:15 - 13:50 | FL
(5727) The Constitution Meets Electronic Information in Criminal Matters originally was presented on March 9, 2022. The program is available as Downloadable Audio and Online Seminar (On-Demand).
Part 1 of a two-part series on electronic information in criminal proceedings. CLE Credits: 2 General; 1 Technology. Certification credits: 2 Juvenile Law, 2 Appellate Practice, 2 Criminal Appellate, 2 Criminal Trial. Presented by Ronald J. Hedges, Senior Counsel, Dentons US, LLP, New York, New York; and Hon. Milton Hirsch, Miami-Dade Circuit Judge, Miami. Moderated by H. Scott Fingerhut.
In Part 1 of this series, our presenters concentrate on Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues arising from the seizure and search of electronic information. The Sixth Amendment Right of Confrontation is addressed as well.

Background on the series: Electronic information of ever-expanding varieties and volumes is, without question, a common feature of criminal investigations and proceedings today. More and more, electronic information is used in the commission of crimes and thus has become the focus of law enforcement investigations, prosecutions, and defense.
As a result, the collection and search of electronic information may implicate the Warrant Requirement of the Fourth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, the Sixth Amendment right of confrontation, and their Florida counterparts. In addition, electronic information may raise evidentiary issues of preservation and spoliation, as well as discovery obligations, “cooperation” between prosecution and defense, and, ultimately, admissibility.
In this two-part program, expert lawyers and veteran presenters, Ronald Hedges, former United States Magistrate Judge and now Senior Counsel with Dentons US LLP, and Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch, will explore timely topics about electronic information and suggest strategies that might be useful to both prosecutors and defense counsel.
Each presentation complements the other. For the busy practitioner who may wish to focus on particular topics, each session can stand alone.

2022-02-25 12:15 - 13:45 | FL
(5731) The ABCs of Expert Witness Depositions—Feb. 25, 2022, 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM, Live GoToWebinar. Part 4 of the Experts on Advocacy: Building and Using a Deposition Notebook CLE Series. Approved for 2 General CLE credits and 2 certification credits each in Juvenile Law, Appellate Practice, Criminal Appellate and Criminal Trial. Criminal Law Section members register for only $50.
Experts on Advocacy is a CLE series presented by the Criminal Law Section bringing together today’s best strategic thinkers and compelling courtroom advocates to offer you effective ideas and creative insights for improving litigation results at all stages of criminal court proceedings.
We are privileged to have veteran trial lawyer Ed Page return with this fourth installment of his Deposition Notebook series—the ABCs of expert witness depositions and how to take them to the next level. Once and for all, Ed will take the mystery out of this all-important part of the discovery process by employing his tried and true principles and techniques, including:

The T-Funnel approach to learn, confirm, tie down, and test facts and expert opinions
How to craft and manage your lists of bad case facts and good case facts
How to learn and apply the four levels of advocacy in criminal cases
How to build and use a deposition notebook

Participants in this program will receive the complete, 36-topic index from the Ed Page Deposition Notebook, including all the materials you will need to take your best expert witness depositions. REGISTER

2021-12-10 09:00 - 17:00 | GoToWebinar, FL, United States
Modern Trends in State and Federal Health Care Prosecutions—December 10, 2021—Live Webcast (90-day, on-demand access for registrants). Course 5641 is approved for 8.0 General CLE credits; 8.0 each certification program credits in Appellate Practice, Criminal Appellate, Criminal Trial Law, Health Law and Juvenile Law. Course Classification—Advanced. This second iteration of this informative program will continue to review the most current law enforcement trends and best practices in federal and state healthcare prosecutions. Our presenters, all expert practitioners in this field, will update attendees on today’s healthcare fraud and kickback cases, as well as focus on how to develop winning litigation strategies, from the pretrial motion stage to executing trial skills to your advantage to achieving greater success at sentencing. Prosecution and defense alike will gain important insight and benefit from this event. REGISTER
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Registration
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM
Welcome
Marissel Descalzo, Program Chair, Miami
9:15 AM – 10:30 AM
Hot Topics in Healthcare Prosecutions: Current Enforcement Initiatives and Best Practices
Elizabeth D. Shaw, Ponte Vedra Beach
Ryan K. Stumphauzer, Miami
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Why Pretrial Motions are Important to Winning a Healthcare Fraud Case
Marissel Descalzo, Miami
Tama B. Kudman, West Palm Beach
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Lunch Provided
12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Maximizing Effectiveness in State and Federal Healthcare Sentencing Proceedings
Simon A. Gaugash, Tampa
Kevin J. Napper, Tampa
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Lessons from the Trenches: Better Trial Practice in Healthcare Cases, Pandemic Included
Michael E. Dutko, Sr., Fort Lauderdale
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Litigation Strategies in Healthcare Fraud and Kickback Prosecutions
Panel: John C. Beroset, Pensacola; Andrew S. Feldman, Miami; Vanessa S. Johannes Miami

2021-10-13 08:00 - 17:00 | FL
Criminal Law Update 2022—April 8, 2022
Details coming soon.

2021-08-13 12:00 - 16:00 | GoToWebinar, FL, United States
MISDEMEANOR MADNESS: How to Better Navigate Florida County Court (Part II)
The Criminal Law Section of the Florida Bar is excited to announce MISDEMEANOR MADNESS: a first-of-its-kind seminar dedicated to the “trials and tribulations” of county court. Don’t miss this TWO-DAY VIRTUAL CLE and learn from some of Florida’s most accomplished lawyers and judges, as they offer expert insight on how to successfully prosecute and defend your misdemeanor cases. Topics to be covered include misdemeanor impact on driver licenses and other professional licensure, the immigration consequences resulting from misdemeanor convictions, unique sentencing schemes of certain “lesser” crimes, along with perspectives, procedural tips, and other practical strategies from county court pros. Misdemeanor Madness offers something for lawyers of all experience levels.
REGISTER
Friday, August 13, 2021
12:00pm – 4:00pm
TOPICS & SPEAKERS
12:00pm – 12:05pm
Welcome
L. Lee Lockett
Lockett Law, Jacksonville Beach
Program Chair
12:05pm – 12:55pm
You Can’t Cancel My License, It’s Already Suspended!: DMV to the Rescue to Sort Out Confusion Over Misdemeanors and their Impact on Driving
Mark L. Mason
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Tallahassee
12:55pm – 1;45pm
A Primer on Sentencing Schemes in County Court
AnneMarie R. Rizzo
The Law Place, Sarasota
1:45pm – 1:55pm
Break
1:55pm – 2:45p
The ABCs of Managing a Misdemeanor Caseload
Tricia Rado Rover
Office of the Public Defender, 4th Judicial Circuit, Jacksonville
2:45pm – 4:00pm
County Court Appeals: New Rules, Ethics, Record Preservation, Practice Tips, and More
Michael R. Ufferman
Michael Ufferman Law Firm, P.A., Tallahassee

4:00pm
Program Close
L. Lee Lockett
Lockett Law, Jacksonville Beach
Program Chair
