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Training

The Office of the Defender General conducts several trainings each year in criminal and juvenile law.  They are usually held in December and June, although these times may vary.  If you are interested in a particular topic, being a presenter at one of the trainings, or desire additional information about ODG trainings, please contact Anna Saxman, Director of Training, by email at Anna.Saxman@vermont.gov.

Please Note:  Attendance at all trainings is by invitation only

IN-PERSON TRAININGS

JUNE 2024

June 12 and 13th in person training Agenda coming late spring 

DECEMBER 2023

Friday, December 8, 8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Vermont Supreme Court in Review, Strategies to Defeat ICE Detainers, Search & Seizure & more
Agenda

JUNE 2023

Wednesday, June 14 - Friday, June 16
Green Mountain Criminal and Juvenile Defense Institute
Agenda

NOVEMBER 2022

Friday, November 4, 9:30am-4:15pm
A Celebration of 50 Years of Public Defense
Pavilion Auditorium
Agenda

JUNE 2022

Friday, June 24, 10-4
Legislative Updates (1 CLE - 10:20-11:20am), Vermont Supreme Court in Review (1.5 CLE - 11:20am-12pm & 1:10-2pm), and Ethics (1.5 CLE - 2-3:30pm)
For more information, please contact the main office at (802) 828-3168. Attendance by invitation only.

Agenda in PDF Format
 

ONLINE TRAININGS

APRIL 2024

Friday, April 12 1:30-3:00 pm
Aligning Criminal Defense with the Science of Addiction 1.5 CLE
Stephanie Tabashneck, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow in Law and Applied Neuroscience at the Center for Law, Brain and Behavior at Massachusetts General Hospital at Harvard Medical School. Lisa Newman-Polk, is a Massachusetts criminal defense attorney who represents defendants with addiction issues and convicted murderers in parole hearings. 

MARCH 2024

Friday, March 8 2:30-3:30 pm
Challenging police searches of devices and accounts 1 CLE
Sydney Thaxter, Senior Litigator at the NACDL Fourth Amendment Center Video Link

FEBRUARY 2024

Monday, February 12 12:00-1:15 pm
Juvenile Transfer Cases 1.25 CLE
Marshall Pahl, Deputy Defender General & Chief Juvenile Defender will offer strategies and law for opposing the state’s attempts to transfer up.

Friday, February 9 1:30-3:30 pm
Police Body Worn Cameras: Are We Really Seeing Everything? 1.5 CLE
Giselle Pomerleau, Litigation Technology Attorney, Office of the Federal Defender for the District of New Jersey, Camden, NJ. Video Link

Monday, February 5 12:00-1:15 pm
Updates on YOs 1.25 CLE
Marshall Pahl, Deputy Defender General & Chief Juvenile Defender will explain what you need to know about handling YO cases. Video Link

JANUARY 2024

Friday, January 26 1:00-2:30 pm
Guns 1.5 CLE
Update on guns -what types, what injuries they inflict and how to challenge the bad science of gun and bullet comparison including “pattern matching” and ballistic comparisons, Chase Carter, Forensic Training Unit attorney, Ohio Public Defender  Video Link

NOVEMBER 2023 

Wednesday, November 15, 1 - 2 p.m.
Finding Your Edge - Striking the Worst Jurors in the Hardest Cases 1 CLE

Martin 
Sabelli is a criminal defense attorney, former federal and state defender and a frequent teacher of trial skills and specifically voir dire at NCDC (National Criminal Defense College), NACDL and many other defense organizations. Our NCDC graduates rave about his voir dire presentations. Don't miss this chance to improve your voir dire! Video Link

OCTOBER 2023

Thursday, October 26 (mainly for investigators but attorneys and other staff are welcome)
      10 - 11:30 am
      Ethical Questions in Investigations  1.5 CLE
      Chris Cutler, Investigator, RI Public Defender's Office

      11:45 am - 1:15 pm
      Social Media Preservation: Best Practices  1.5 CLE
      Merrilea Place, Investigator, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services 

Thursday, October 19
      
      Video of both the following seminars (one recording of both):  Video Link

      9:30 -10:45 am
      Alcohol and Blackouts: The Science  1.25 CLE
      Scott Lukas, Ph.D, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School

      11 am -12:30 pm
      The “Science” of Facial Recognition  1.5 CLE
      Clare Garvie, Distinguished Fellow, Center on Privacy & Technology, Georgetown Law

MAY 2023

Friday, May 19, 2-3pm
Stress and Anxiety with Nancy Strong 1 Wellness CLE
Nancy Strong, an experienced therapist who works with Vermont Law and Graduate School, will present a discussion of the difference between stress and anxiety and ideas for handling both Video Link

APRIL 2023

Friday April 21, 1:30- 3pm
Racial issues in the Detention of Adult and Juvenile Clients 1.5 CLE
Alice Fontier, the Managing Director of NDS Harlem, a holistic public defense office and lecturer at Columbia Law School will present strategies to address racial disparities in detention (This seminar will qualify for Vermont's CLE requirement of Diversity and Inclusion Programming) Video Link

Friday, April 14, 1:30-3pm
DUI Defense 1.5 CLE

Avi Springer and Andrew Pappone of Rubin, Kidney, Meyer and Vincent will provide legal and practical approaches to defending DUIs 
Video Link PDF

MARCH 2023

Friday, March 31, 1:30-3pm
Othering and Complicit Counsel - Changing the Narrative: Ensuring Your Client is Judged on the Merits of their Case and not Their Race
Eric J. Davis, Chief of the Felony Trial Division for the Houston Public Defenders, experienced trial attorney, trainer and recognized as the “Best of the Best” by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (
This seminar will qualify for Vermont's CLE requirement of Diversity and Inclusion Programming) Video Link 

Wednesday, March 1, 1:30-3pm
Bail: Law and Practice 1.5 CLE
Paul Groce and Rebecca Turner will provide legal and practical wisdom on bail Video Link 

FEBRUARY 2023

Friday, February 10, 1:30-3pm
Strategies for Representing State Defendants facing federal liability, plus credit issues and proffers 1.5 CLE
Sara Puls and Mary Nerino, Vermont Federal Defenders, will provide the information state defenders need to navigate the dangers in federal court. Video Link   PowerPoint

AUGUST 2022

Wednesday August 31, 1:30-3pm
Discovery: Getting What You Need - Which May be More Than You Think! 1.5 CLE
Mary Kay Lanthier and Daniel Stevens will discuss ways to make sure you get all the material you need and are entitled to early and often. This seminar is designed for both new and experienced attorneys.    Video Link     PowerPoint

Friday August 5, 1:30-3:15pm
Discovering, Understanding and Explaining Trauma in Criminal and Juvenile Cases 1.75 CLE
James Garbarino, Ph.D., Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology, Loyola University Chicago
     Articles: Is it Self Defense? and A Model for Forensic Evaluation of Juvenile Violence and Type III Trauma: Toward a More Effective Conceptualization of Psychological Trauma
     References
     Video Link

MAY 2022

Friday May 20, 1:30-3
Preparing for Sentencing, at the Beginning, Using Effective Storytelling  1.5 CLE     Video Link 
Jennifer Sellitti, Director of Training for the New Jersey Public Defenders, faculty member at NCDC and presenter at NACDL seminars

APRIL 2022

Friday April 1, 1:00-2:30
Race and the Legal Profession  1.5 Diversity CLE     Video Link     PowerPoint
Bor Yang, Esq. is the Executive Director and Legal Counsel for the Vermont Human Right Commission where she litigates discrimination claims involving the state. 

MARCH 2022

Friday, March 25, 1-2:15
Managing Client Relationships to Manage Your Stress     1.25 CLE - Wellness Credit
A panel of attorneys will discuss their successful strategies and also common mistakes in dealing with clients. We have a guest moderator, Mary Bullis who has moved to Vermont from Alaska where she was a public defender. Mike Shane from Sedon & Ericson in Chelsea will be joined by two Burlington attorneys with different styles, Peggy Jansch and Will Kidney.   Video Link

FEBRUARY 2022

Thursday, February 17, 1-3
Understanding Pediatric Injuries     2 CLE
Dr. Arden, forensic pathologist
     Articles:  Cognitive Bias in FP and Non-Accidental Injury & the Mimics  Video Link

Friday, February 11, 1-2:30
Preventing Detention and Bail under the Vermont Constitution     1.5 CLE
Appellate defenders Rebecca Turner and Josh O'Hara   Video Link

JANUARY 2022

Friday, January 21, 1-2:30
Can Lightning Strike More than Once? Winning Speedy Trial Motions     1.5 CLE
David Sleigh. Video Link

Friday, January 14, 1-2:30
Update on Juvenile Law from the VTSCT     1.5 CLE
Appellate defenders Rebecca Turner and Sarah Star and Deputy Defender General / lead Juvenile Defender Marshall Pahl. Video Link

DECEMBER 2021

Friday, December 10, 1-2:30
Vermont Supreme Court in Review     1.5 CLE     Video Link Supreme Court In Review PowerPoint Sex and Suppression Powerpoint
Appellate defenders explain the new cases from the Court.

NOVEMBER 2021

Friday, November 5, 1:30-3:30
Representing LGBTQ+ Youth in Vermont     2 CLE  Video Link 
A panel of youth, advocates and attorneys will present ways to improve our representation of LGBTQ+ young people.
NOTE: This seminar will satisfy the mandatory CLE requirement for Diversity and Inclusion Programming!

Friday, November 12, 10-11:30
The How & Why of Determining BAC   1.5 CLE
Darcy Richards, a forensic toxicologist will present an overview of how alcohol concentrations are estimated, including a review of Widmark, important factors, pitfalls, and current trends. Darcy regularly provides consultation and testimony in civil and criminal matters throughout Vermont.

OCTOBER 2021

Friday, October 8, 2-3:30 
USSCT in Review    1.5 CLE    Video Link 
David McColgin and Barclay Johnson will give us the latest from the US Supreme Court.

Friday, October 15, 2-3:30
Using & Challenging Character Evidence   1.5 CLE     
Video Link
Mary Kay Lanthier and Larry Novins, VLS Evidence Lab professors.

Friday, October 22, 1-2:30
Interpreter & Translation Services:  New & Improved in 2021    1.5 CLE     Video Link
     Training Outline
     Vermont Judiciary's Language Access Operations Manual

Dawn Seibert, Will Kidney and Rebecca Turner will demystify accessing court and defense interpreters and translation services for clients whose primary language is not English.

SEPTEMBER 2021

Friday, September 17, 1-2:30
New Changes to the Appellate Rules on E-Filing    1.5 CLE     Video Link   E-Filing & New Appellate Rules PowerPoint
Rebecca Turner will explain the new rules on the record on appeal, new citation requirements, brief formatting changes, and more.

Friday, September 24, 2-3:30 - CANCELLED - RESCHEDULED TO 10/15!
Using & Challenging Character Evidence   1.5 CLE
Mary Kay Lanthier and Larry Novins, VLS Evidence Lab professors.

AUGUST 2021

Friday, August 20, 2:00-3:15
Trials and Tribulations    1.25 CLE
Join the conversation about how practice is going. Share your trial and court experiences with others and get ideas on how to navigate the next months. (not recorded)

JULY 2021

Thursday, July 8, 2-3:30
Ethics for Juvenile Law Practitioners  1.5 ETHICS CLE     Video Link 
Marshall Pahl, Deputy Defender General and lead Juvenile Defender

Friday, July 9th, 2-3:30
Appellate Update on Juvenile Law  1.5 CLE     Video Link 
Rebecca Turner, Dawn Seibert, and Sarah Star, Appellate Defenders     

Thursday, July 15th, 2-3:30
Medical Records Revealed  1.5 CLE     Video Link 
Jennifer Grossman, R.N., Executive Director of Nurses for Social Justice, explains how to interpret, de-code and better understand medical records. For lawyers and investigators!

Friday, July 23rd, 2-3:45
Parenting Assessments  1.75 CLE      Video Link 
Claire Gilligan, PsyD,. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in forensic and clinical work. She prepares forensic evaluations to assist with family, criminal, and civil court matters and also has an individual psychotherapy practice.

JUNE 2021

Thursday, June 10th, 2-3:30
Vermont Supreme Court in Review  1.5 CLE           Video Link
Appellate Defenders explain the new cases.

Friday, June 18th, 2-3:30
Understand and Evaluating Injuries  1.5 CLE
Dr. Jonathan Arden, a nationally known forensic pathologist, will explain how to evaluate injuries in criminal cases.

Thursday, June 24th, 1:30-3:00           Video Link    Legislative Summary
Legislative Roundup
Matthew Valerio, Defender General

MAY 2021

Friday May 7th, 2:00-3:30
Practice Pointers for In-Person Hearings:  Things You Need to Know!  1.5 CLE
Susan McManus, Chris Davis and Kate Lamson will discuss what's changed and how to effectievly navigate in-person hearings and trials.    Video Link

APRIL 2021

Friday April 9th, 1:30-3:00 pm
Three Beers and a Benzo:  Defending DUI Drug Cases 1.5 CLE
Devin McLaughlin, David Sleigh and Brad Myerson will present the best ways to attack these cases and win!

Friday April 23rd, 3:00-4:30 pm
What's Interrogation Got To Do With It? Defending Confession Cases 1.5 CLE
Deja Vishny is a highly experienced, award winning, criminal defense attorney, consultant, trainer,  professor, and author specializing in homicide and confession cases. She is a faculty and board member of the National Criminal Defense College and lectures at criminal defense seminars throughout the United States - teaching cross-examination of police interrogators. Ms. Vishny attended the Reid School on Interrogation and teaches at the National Forensic College at Cardozo Law School. Her book, Suppressing Criminal Evidence is in its third edition. 

Defending False Confession Cases           Challenging Confessions of Mentally Vulnerable Clients   Video Link

MARCH 2021

Friday March 12th, 2:00-3:30 pm
Speedy Trial Update & Motion Practice 1.5 CLE      Video Link    Slides
Josh O'Hara is an Appellate Defender and Chris Davis is a Public Defender in the Rutland Office - both are raising speedy trial issues for clients at the trial court and appellate levels.

Friday March 19th, 3:00-4:30 pm
Odyssey Encore 1.5 CLE
Jordana Levine is a Director and shareholder at Marsicovetere & Levine Law Group. Her diverse practice includes Criminal Defense, Family Law, and DUI/DWI.  She teaches trial practice at Vermont Law School and Understanding Odyssey for the Defender General's Office.

FEBRUARY 2021

Friday February 5th, 1:30-3:00 pm
De-Criminalizing Domestic Violence Cases 1.5 CLE     Video Link
Professor Goodmark teaches Family Law, Gender and the Law, and directs the Gender Violence Clinic at the University of Maryland Frances King Carey School of Law. Professor Goodmark’s scholarship has appeared in numerous journals and law reviews, including the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. She is the author of Decriminalizing Domestic Violence: A Balanced Policy Approach to Intimate Partner Violence.

Friday February 12th, 1:30-3:30 pm
Odyssey Encore! 2 CLE       Video Link
Jordana Levine is a Director and shareholder at Marsicovetere & Levine Law Group. Her diverse practice includes Criminal Defense, Family Law, and DUI/DWI.  She teaches trial practice at Vermont Law School and Understanding Odyssey for the Defender General's Office.

Friday, February 26th, 3-4:30 pm
Defending DUIs - the Nuts & Bolts 1.5 CLE     Video Link    Slides
Jessica Burke, a former public defender in Virginia, is the founder of Burke Law,  a statewide law firm specializing in Criminal Defense and DUI/DWI law. Susan McManus is a public defender in the Bennington County Public Defender's Office where she handles felony cases, DUI/DWIs and more. She is the President of VTACDL.

JANUARY 2021

Friday January 15th, 9:00 am-10:45 am
The Game of Thrones: How to Stand Up to Difficult Judges, Andrew Cohen & David Meyers (attys at Mass. Committee for Public Counsel) 1.75 CLE Video Link PowerPoint

Friday January 22nd, 1:30- 3:30 pm
Odyssey Encore!  Jordana Levine 2 CLE    Video Link

Friday January 29, 1:00- 2:30 pm
Juvenile Law: New Cases & Issues, Appellate Defenders 1.5 CLE     Video Link

DECEMBER 2020

Friday 12/4, 1:00-2:30
Juvenile Update - Marshall Pahl - 1.5 CLE   Video Link

Friday 12/11, 1:00-2:30
Legislative Changes: Good time, parole, furlough, home confinement and more! - Emily Tredeau - 1.5 CLE   Video Link

Friday 12/18, 1:00-3:00
Wellness for criminal and juvenile defenders - Michael Kennedy - 2 CLE  Video Link

NOVEMBER 2020

Friday 11/6, 1:00-2:30
Legislative Round-up - Matthew Valerio - 1.5 CLE Video Link

Friday 11/13, 1:00-3:00
Odyssey Adventure - Jordana Levine - 2 CLE Video Link

Friday 11/20, 1:00-2:30
Appellate Update on Criminal Law - 1.5 CLE Video Link

INVESTIGATOR ONLINE TRAINING

ODYSSEY ONLINE TRAINING

2020 Green Mountain Juvenile And Criminal Defense Institute - Online Training!

  • Tuesday through Thursday, June 9-11, 2020

Agenda in Word format

Agenda in PDF format

 

JURY TRIALS - CLE (1.5) - May 12, 2020 (password protected)
(Please note that this CLE was not recorded so there is no video. The following are documents only.)

Barker Factors - Speedy Trial

Speedy Trial Outline

Criminal Law Training

  • Friday, December 6, 2019 - Montpelier - Pavilion Auditorium, 109 State Street.

Agenda in Word format

Agenda in PDF format

 

2019 Green Mountain Juvenile And Criminal Defense Institute

  • NOTE:  MONDAY TO THURSDAY!  June 10, 11, 12, 13, 2019

      Agenda in Word format

      Agenda in PDF format
 

Juvenile Law Training

 

Criminal Law Training

2018 Green Mountain Juvenile And Criminal Defense Institute

  • June 5, 6, 7 & 8, 2018

 

Criminal Law Training

Juvenile Law Training

2017 Green Mountain Juvenile And Criminal Defense Institute

 

Criminal Law Training

Juvenile Law Training

2016 Green Mountain Juvenile And Criminal Defense Institute