Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice to Look at #MeToo Cases, Russia Probe & More
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles’ 12th-annual Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice will examine the Mueller Investigation and political corruption, sexual assault prosecutions, marijuana-law developments, changes in the parole system among other hot-button topics during the prestigious annual symposium to be held from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27, 2018 on Loyola’s downtown L.A. campus. The day will conclude with the presentation of the Fidler Awards and Judges’ Reception.
The day will unfold as follows:
8:45-9 a.m. Welcome
9-9:30 a.m.
The introductory remarks, a veritable State of Criminal Justice Report, will be provided by Hon. Nicola Hanna, U.S. Attorney, Central District of California; Hon. Jackie Lacey, District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office; and Hon. Hilary Potashner, Federal Public Defender, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California.
9:30–11 a.m.
#MeToo and Prosecution of Sexual Assault Cases, which will look at the interplay between the gender-equality movement and the criminal justice system. Speakers include Blair Berk, partner, Tarlow & Berk; Christina Buckley, head Deputy District Attorney, Sex Crimes Division, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office; Richard Kraft, Special Trials Supervising Attorney, Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney; Lowrie Mendoza, Deputy District Attorney, Sex Crimes Division, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office; Sharlene Johnson, detective, Los Angeles Police Department, Sexual Assault Section; Max Subin, sergeant, Beverly Hills Police Department; and Vicki Podberesky, partner, Andrues / Podberesky. Loyola Professor Laurie L. Levenson, David W. Burcham Professor of Law and Fidler Institute founder, will moderate.
11:15-12:15 p.m.
Marijuana Prosecutions: California v. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will explore issues of federal preemption of state laws legalizing marijuana. Panelists will include Asha Greenberg, senior Assistant City Attorney, Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney; Reuven Cohen, partner, Cohen Williams Williams LLP; Robert Dugdale, partner, Kendall Brill & Kelly LLP; Rasha Gerges Shields, partner, Jones Day; and Alexandra Yates, deputy Federal Public Defender, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Central District of California. Professor Sean Kennedy, Kaplan & Feldman Director of Loyola’s Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, will moderate.
Lunchtime Keynote 12:15 p.m.
The lunchtime keynote address, White Supremacists & Hate Groups: How America Can Defeat Them, will be delivered by Christian Picciolini. A self-described former skinhead, he is an author and the co-founder of Life After Hate, a peace advocacy and counter-extremism consulting group.
1:45-3 p.m.
The Mueller Investigation and Political Corruption Cases panel will examine the unique challenges of attempts to prosecute ethics violations and some common missteps. Speakers will include Hon. Robert Bonner, mediator, Phillips ADR; United States District Judge (ret.) Terree A. Bowers, partner, Arent Fox LLP; Hon. Gary Feess, mediator, Phillips ADR; U.S. District Judge (ret.) Harry Litman, former U.S. Attorney and deputy Assistant Attorney General; and David Scheper, partner, Scheper Kim & Harris LLP. Professor Levenson will moderate.
3:15-4:15 p.m.
Navigating the New Parole System will scrutinize California’s revised parole guidelines. Speakers will include Hon. Jacqueline Lewis, judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court; Jennifer Shaffer, executive officer, Board of Parole Hearings; and Kraig St. Pierre, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office; Deputy-in-Charge, Parole Revocation Section, Lynwood Regional Justice Center. Adam Grant, program director of the Loyola Project for the Innocent, will moderate.
4:15 p.m.
Fidler Awards followed by Judges’ Reception
The day will conclude with the brief presentation of the 12th-annual Fidler Awards: Judge of the Year – Hon. William C. Ryan, Los Angeles Superior Court; Prosecutor of the Year – Hon. Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Attorney; and Defense Lawyer of the Year – Vicki Podberesky, partner, Andrues/Podberesky. The presentation will be immediately followed by the Judges’ Reception.
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles’ Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice is named in honor of Loyola Law School alumnus Judge Larry P. Fidler ’74, Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, and will be held in the Girardi Advocacy Center on Loyola Law School’s campus at 919 Albany St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. Parking will be provided in the law school parking lot. More information is available at www.lls.edu/fidler.