On-Demand: Wisconsin is now a Daubert State: Admitting Expert Testimony

Wisconsin State Public Defender's On-Demand Training presents...

Wisconsin is now a Daubert State: Admitting Expert Testimony under the New Law

Tuition:

$50 - Private attorneys actively taking public defender appointments.

$100 - All other criminal defense attorneys.

Please mail tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defender” to:

Phil Mergen

State Public Defender

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

CLE Credit:

This program has been approved for 3.5 total Continuing Legal Education Credits.

Here are brief instructions to get you started.

Creating a User Account:

1. Go to http://training.wisspd.org

2. Click on Create new account (in the “Login” box on the top right of the screen)

3. Fill out the form with your details.

4. An email will be immediately sent to your email address.

5. Read your email, and click on the web link it contains.

6. Your account will be confirmed and you will be logged in.

7. Now, select the course you want to participate in.

8. If you are prompted for an "enrollment key" - use the one that the SPD has given you. This will "enroll" you in the course (see below).

9. You can now access the full course. From now on you will only need to enter your personal username and password to log in and access any course you have enrolled in.

Navigating the Course:

1. The “enrollment key” for Wisconsin is now a Daubert State is 204.

2. The course is divided into a number of sections, including brief videos, PDF documents and short quizzes. It is not necessary to finish the course in one sitting.  

3. The videos and PDFs open in a separate window. When finished with a video or PDF, simply close the window to return to the course.

4. The quizzes open within the course itself. When finished with a quiz, click on the “Daubert April 2011” button in the upper left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen to return to the course.

If you have any questions about the SPD’s on-demand training, please feel free to contact the SPD Training  Division.

Daubert Training Materials Now Available

Although the live program is full, you can still have access to the materials. 


Daubert Primer
New Evidence Rules and Wisconsin Criminal Litigation
Professor Daniel Blinka


Daubert Litigation Strategies
Attorney Craig Albee


Also, watch for this training to be available at our new on-demand site by early May.
http://training.wisspd.org/


About the Program:

In January 2011, the Wisconsin Legislature made substantial revisions to Wis. Stats. Ch. 907 regarding the admissibility of expert testimony. These revisions have brought Wisconsin into line with what is known in the federal system as the “Daubert” standard and potentially opens up a new area of litigation concerning what scientific testimony should now be permitted in Wisconsin courtrooms. 

The program will begin with Professor Daniel Blinka, one of Wisconsin’s foremost experts on evidence, explaining the new law and how federal courts have construed it under Daubert. Professor Blinka’s presentation will be followed by separate breakouts for defense lawyers and prosecutors to discuss litigation under the new standards. Finally, the program will conclude with a presentation by Circuit Court Judge Ellen Brostrom and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia Gorence on how the courts should apply the new statutes.

On-Demand: Chapter 51 Involuntary Civil Commitment Cases

Wisconsin State Public Defender's On-Demand Training presents...

Private Bar Specialty Certification Training: Chapter 51 Involuntary Civil Commitment Cases

Tuition:
$50 - Private attorneys actively taking public defender appointments.

$100 - All other criminal defense attorneys.

Please mail tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defender” to:

Phil Mergen

State Public Defender

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

CLE Credit:

This program has been approved for 2.0 total Continuing Legal Education Credits.

Here are brief instructions to get you started.

Creating a User Account:

1. Go to http://training.wisspd.org

2. Click on Create new account (in the “Login” box on the top right of the screen)

3. Fill out the form with your details.

4. An email will be immediately sent to your email address.

5. Read your email, and click on the web link it contains.

6. Your account will be confirmed and you will be logged in.

7. Now, select the course you want to participate in.

8. If you are prompted for an "enrollment key" - use the one that the SPD has given you. This will "enroll" you in the course (see below).

9. You can now access the full course. From now on you will only need to enter your personal username and password to log in and access any course you have enrolled in.

Navigating the Course:

1. The “enrollment key” for Chapter 51 Involuntary Civil Commitment Cases is 203.

2. The course is divided into a number of sections, including brief videos, PDF documents and short quizzes. It is not necessary to finish the course in one sitting.  

3. The videos and PDFs open in a separate window. When finished with a video or PDF, simply close the window to return to the course.

4. The quizzes open within the course itself. When finished with a quiz, click on the “Chapter 51 Nov 2010” button in the upper left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen to return to the course.

If you have any questions about the SPD’s on-demand training, please feel free to contact the SPD Training  Division.

“Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 credit for use towards future SPD training seminars.

On-Demand: Probation, Parole and Extended Supervision Revocation Cases

Wisconsin State Public Defender's On-Demand Training presents...

Private Bar Specialty Certification Training: Probation, Parole and Extended Supervision Revocation Cases

Tuition:

                       $50 - Private attorneys actively taking public defender appointments.

$100 - All other criminal defense attorneys.

Please mail tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defender” to:

Phil Mergen

State Public Defender

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

CLE Credit:

This program has been approved for 1.5 total Continuing Legal Education Credits.

Here are brief instructions to get you started.

Creating a User Account:

1. Go to http://training.wisspd.org

2. Click on Create new account (in the “Login” box on the top right of the screen)

3. Fill out the form with your details.

4. An email will be immediately sent to your email address.

5. Read your email, and click on the web link it contains.

6. Your account will be confirmed and you will be logged in.

7. Now, select the course you want to participate in.

8. If you are prompted for an "enrollment key" - use the one that the SPD has given you. This will "enroll" you in the course (see below).

9. You can now access the full course. From now on you will only need to enter your personal username and password to log in and access any course you have enrolled in.

Navigating the Course:

1. The “enrollment key” for Probation, Parole and Extended Supervision Revocation Cases is 202.

2. The course is divided into a number of sections, including brief videos, PDF documents and short quizzes. It is not necessary to finish the course in one sitting.  

3. The videos and PDFs open in a separate window. When finished with a video or PDF, simply close the window to return to the course.

4. The quizzes open within the course itself. When finished with a quiz, click on the “Revocation Nov 2010” button in the upper left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen to return to the course.

If you have any questions about the SPD’s on-demand training, please feel free to contact the SPD Training  Division.

“Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 credit for use towards future SPD training seminars.

Register Now! SOCDA 2011 Conference

Sex Offender Commitment Defense Association (SOCDA) 2011 Conference

"The ABCs of SVP Commitment Trials: Effective Trial Practice and Recent Research"

Co-Sponsored by Local Experts and the Wisconsin State Public Defender's Office

August 13-14, 2011

Hilton Chicago-Northbrook Hotel

Northbrook, Illinois

The 2011 SOCDA Conference will include presentations of effective trial preparation strategies and trial practices.  Attorneys new to SVP practice, and experienced SVP attorneys, will get the most up-to-date information on trial strategies, and research on risk assessment and diagnostic issues.  In addition, a panel of experts will answer your questions about the state of SVP science.  The conference will conclude with an open forum to discuss issues with fellow SVP attorneys, and winning strategies. 

Tuition: $50.00

Please mail completed registration form below and tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defenders Office” to:                                        

Phil Mergen

Office of the State Public Defender

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI  53703

Email: mergenp@opd.wi.gov

Telephone: 608.261.0622

Continuing legal education credits will be applied for from the WI Board of Bar Examiners.

Agenda Now Posted! 2011 WATCP Annual Conference

The Wisconsin Association of Treatment Court Professionals' (WATCP) Annual Conference will be held April 26 & 27, 2011 at the Hotel Mead in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.


Here's a look at this year's program agenda:




Sign up today!

Navigating the SPD's New On-Demand Training Site

Have you signed up for the State Public Defender's on-demand training yet? If not, here are some tips to help you navigate our new site. Also, be sure to check out the "Help" section located in the main menu of the site.


Navigating the Front Page:


Navigating the Course:


Sign up today!

Upcoming CLE on Daubert!

Wisconsin is now a Daubert State:

Admitting Expert Testimony under the New Law

Sponsored by the State Public Defender’s Office and the Department of Justice

Friday April 15, 2011

8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.)

Marquette University Law School—Eckstein Hall

1215 W. Michigan Street

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Agenda


Register Now!(Program full)


About the Program:

In January 2011, the Wisconsin Legislature made substantial revisions to Wis. Stats. Ch. 907 regarding the admissibility of expert testimony. These revisions have brought Wisconsin into line with what is known in the federal system as the “Daubert” standard and potentially opens up a new area of litigation concerning what scientific testimony should now be permitted in Wisconsin courtrooms. 

The program will begin with Professor Daniel Blinka, one of Wisconsin’s foremost experts on evidence, explaining the new law and how federal courts have construed it under Daubert. Professor Blinka’s presentation will be followed by separate breakouts for defense lawyers and prosecutors to discuss litigation under the new standards. Finally, the program will conclude with a presentation by Circuit Court Judge Ellen Brostrom and United States Magistrate Judge Patricia Gorence on how the courts should apply the new statutes.


Registration, CLE and Additional Information:

The cost for private bar attorneys actively taking SPD cases is $25. The cost for attorneys not actively taking SPD cases is $50. Online registration is available at the SPD website.

The program will be approved for 3.5 CLE credits.

Seating for this program is limited. Please register early to ensure a spot.

Note the program will be videotaped and available on-demand approximately two weeks after the live program. 

Parking at Eckstein Hall:

Please note that limited parking is available in the Eckstein Hall parking structure for $5 per car. Additional parking is available for $5 in the Wells Street Structure, located on Wells Street between 12th Street and 13th Street.  It is about a 2 block walk to Eckstein Hall. 

See Map for additional details. 

Questions:

Questions about the program can be directed to Philip Mergen or Deja Vishny

“Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 credit for use towards future SPD training seminars.

On-Demand: Immigration and Criminal Defense in a Post-Padilla Era

Wisconsin State Public Defender's On-Demand Training presents...

Immigration and Criminal Defense in a Post-Padilla Era

About the Program:

This course focuses on defense counsel's 6th Amendment duty under the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court's decision, Padilla v. KY, to advise non-citizen clients of the consequences of criminal conviction. This course also covers some basics of immigration law including the types of immigration status, how to determine your client's status, the ways in which a non-citizen client can be removed from the U.S. and the effect certain criminal offenses can have on a client's status.

Tuition:

$50 - Private attorneys actively taking public defender appointments.

$100 - All other criminal defense attorneys.

Please mail tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defenders Office” to:

Phil Mergen

State Public Defender

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

CLE Credit:

This program has been approved for 4.0 total Continuing Legal Education Credits.

Here are brief instructions to get you started.

Creating a User Account:

1. Go to http://training.wisspd.org

2. Click on Create new account (in the “Login” box on the top right of the screen)

3. Fill out the form with your details.

4. An email will be immediately sent to your email address.

5. Read your email, and click on the web link it contains.

6. Your account will be confirmed and you will be logged in.

7. Now, select the course you want to participate in.

8. If you are prompted for an "enrollment key" - use the one that the SPD has given you. This will "enroll" you in the course.

9. You can now access the full course. From now on you will only need to enter your personal username and password to log in and access any course you have enrolled in.

Navigating the Course:

1. The “enrollment key” for Immigration and Criminal Defense in the Post-Padilla Era is 201.

2. The course is divided into a number of sections, including brief videos, PDF documents and short quizzes. It is not necessary to finish the course in one sitting.  

3. The videos and PDFs open in a separate window. When finished with a video or PDF, simply close the window to return to the course.

4. The quizzes open within the course itself. When finished with a quiz, click on the “Immigration Nov 2010” button in the upper left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen to return to the course.

If you have any questions about the SPD’s on-demand training, please feel free to contact the SPD Training  Division.

“Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 credit for use towards future SPD training seminars.

On-Demand Training Now Available!

The Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office is thrilled to announce its new, on-demand training!

The private bar lawyers who take public defender cases will now be able to earn continuing legal education credits to comply with the SPD’s certification requirements by participating in training from their computer—anytime—saving valuable time and expense!

CLE credits to comply with the requirements of SCR Chapter 31 can also be earned by participating in the SPD’s on-demand training. Please do note the Board of Bar Examiners’ specific rules regarding on-demand  programs.

The first on-demand course we have made available is Immigration and Criminal Defense in a Post-Padilla Era. This course has been approved for 4.0 CLE credits.

Also, within the next month or so, we will make certification training available on-demand for the following specialty case types:

• Involuntary Civil Commitments
• Probation/Parole/Extended Supervision Revocations
• Juvenile

The SPD hopes you will find the on-demand training not only informative and instructive but more convenient and cost-effective.

Here are brief instructions to get you started.

Creating a User Account:

1. Go to http://training.wisspd.org

2. Click on Create new account (in the “Login” box on the top right of the screen)

3. Fill out the form with your details.

4. An email will be immediately sent to your email address.

5. Read your email, and click on the web link it contains.

6. Your account will be confirmed and you will be logged in.

7. Now, select the course you want to participate in.

8. If you are prompted for an "enrollment key" - use the one that the SPD has given you. This will "enroll" you in the course.

9. You can now access the full course. From now on you will only need to enter your personal username and password to log in and access any course you have enrolled in.

Navigating the Course:

1. Course is divided into a number of sections, including brief videos, PDF documents and short quizzes. It is not necessary to finish the course in one sitting.

2. The videos and PDFs open in a separate window. When finished with a video or PDF, simply close the window to return to the course.

3. The quizzes open within the course itself. When finished with a quiz, click on the course name button in the upper left of the screen or at the bottom of the screen to return to the course.


Continuing Legal Education Credits:
To claim Continuing Legal Education Credits for a course, please mail tuition in the form of a check made payable to “State Public Defenders Office” to:
Phil Mergen
State Public Defender
315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor
Madison, WI 53703


If you have any questions about the SPD’s on-demand training, please feel free to contact the SPD Training  Division.

Still Spots Available! SPD's 2011 Trial Skills Academy

There are still spots available for the SPD's 2011 Trial Skills Academy, May 9-13 in Lake Geneva. 


Not only is Trial Skills Academy a great learning experience for newer lawyers, it is an opportunity for more seasoned lawyers to gain a new perspective on the practice of law. Every year, Trial Skills Academy enrolls lawyers with a broad range of experience--ranging from just out of law school to over 30 years of practice!


I'd like to share what an energizing experience going back to the SPD's Trial Skills Academy is for more experienced attorneys.  When I went back to TSA after 10 years with the SPD, I was surprised by how much easier it was to understand the trial skills training than before. Those 10 years of seasoning and experience made the lessons taught by the outstanding TSA faculty much more valuable. Because time and experience had made me a more capable lawyer, I was better able to capitalize on the nuanced and subtle practice skills the faculty presented.  Going back to TSA also gave me a chance to fall in love with criminal defense trial work all over again.  I also really appreciated the close friendships I made with other experienced students at TSA. Those friendships have lasted through to the present, and I’m proud to point out that many of those colleagues are now leaders in the SPD.
-Larry Peterson, Assistant State Public Defender

After about 20 years of practice and after about 10 years with the agency, I attended the SPD's Trial Skills Academy. During that week I was taught the story telling method of presenting a case to a jury. Immediately after I returned from the training I began to apply the techniques I’d learned, not only in trial, but in interviewing clients, presenting sentencing arguments and in other ways. The training gave me a new perspective on approaching cases and I believe it made me a more effective advocate for my clients. 
-Gene Bartman, First Assistant State Public Defender, Appleton Region


Sign up Today!

“Like” us on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 credit for use towards future SPD training seminars.

Save the Date! SOCDA 2011 Annual Conference

Sex Offender Commitment Defense Association (SOCDA)

2011 Conference

"The ABCs of SVP Commitment Trials:

Recent Research and Effective Trial Practice"

Co-Sponsored by Local Experts* and the Wisconsin Public Defender's Office

August 13-14, 2011

Chicago, Illinois area (exact location TBA)

Agenda:

Day 1 (8:30am-4:30 pm)

·        Registration

·        Introductions

·        General Preparation for SVP Cases

·        SVP Trial Practice

·        LUNCH: "Meet the Experts" panel to answer questions

·        Risk Assessment

·        Recent Research

·        Diagnostic Issues

Day 2 (9am-12noon)

·        Mock SVP Trials

Featuring:

Attorney Mark Larsen, New Hampshire Public Defender, Manchester, New Hampshire

Attorney John Fennel, Alternative Commitment Unit, Brockton, Massachusetts

Attorney Robert LeBell, Private Practice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thomas Zander, Psy.D., JD., Private Practice, Wisconsin & Florida

Brian Abbott, Ph.D., Private Practice, San Jose, California

Richard Wollert, Ph.D., Private Practice, Vancouver, WA

Terence Campbell, Ph.D., ABPP, Private Practice, Sterling Heights, Michigan

James Peterson, Ph.D., Private Practice, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin

Continuing legal education credits will be applied for from the WI Board of Bar Examiners