Defending the Unpopular Client

NCDAA Fall Seminar

Wednesday, October 14, 2009, 8:15am-4:45pm

DoubleTree Hotel, Omaha

Moderated by Brent M. Bloom and Stuart J. Dornan

Every criminal defense attorney finds herself, from time to time, defending a client who is seen as a pariah by his community and sometimes, it seems, the whole world. Defending such a client can be a challenge on numerous levels. Extensive media coverage, a withdrawn and terrified client who may not be able to withstand the rigors of interrogation, negative public opinion, and a tendency to equate the lawyer with the defendant all contribute to the complexity of defending these cases. NCDAA will address these issues and more in this program. With the information provided by our outstanding, highly experienced speakers, you will learn more effective methods to defend these cases. Plan to join us for a very worthwhile and interesting day.

This will be an all day program held on Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Omaha. NCDAA is an accredited sponsor of Nebraska mandatory CLE and this program will qualify for 2010 accreditation. Registration is only $150.00 for NCDAA members and judges and $210.00 for non members.

Featured speakers include Dr. Dan Wilson, head of the psychiatry department at Creighton University.  Dr. Wilson is a highly respected psychiatrist who
is a nationally known expert in false confessions. Dr. Wilson has worked for many years in the area of interviewing techniques and has testified in court over a thousand times. His credentials are re too extensive to list here. He is highly qualified to address his topic of "Dissecting Confessions." NCDAA is very pleased to have him participate in this program. Dr. Wilson will educate and inform on the issues related to false confessions and the reasons they happen.

Also joining us for the program will be attorney Dan Monnat of Wichita, KS. Dan has long been a good friend to NCDAA and has presented at other NCDAA  seminars. He is a very successful criminal defense attorney and former NACDL board member. He has been much in the news of late in his role as attorney to  the late Dr. George Tiller of Wichita. Dan represented Dr. Tiller in March when he was acquitted of 19 counts of performing procedures unlawfully at his clinic. And Dan has represented numerous other unpopular clients over the years. Dan will address "The High Profile Case and the Unpopular Client" and "Kung Fu Strategies for Unpopular Cases." You will not want to miss his insights and very helpful suggestions for dealing with these difficult  cases. At the seminar lunch, Dan will share some of his memories of his good friend Don Fiedler.

Longtime NCDAA member attorney Julie Bear of Plattsmouth represented Matthew Livers who was charged with and confessed to two murders in Murdock. In her presentation, "Tales From the Trenches What Happened in Cass County," Julie will explain what really happened and how it happened that her client confessed to murders he did not commit. Subsequently, it was ascertained that Mr. Livers was not involved in the murders and that the confession was wholly false. In addition, it is now alleged that some of the physical evidence was fabricated. Join us and learn to understand how this can happen, how to deal with these shocking facts and how to undo the damage created by the false admission of guilt.

Omaha attorney Susan Koenig has broadened her areas of expertise to include communication issues. She will address attorney/client communication. How do you effectively deal with the unpopular client when you must address issues of great importance which are also very unpleasant. How do you handle the client who dislikes everyone, including her attorney. Methods of successfully dealing with these very difficult issues while maintaining a good attorney/client relationship will be the topic of Ms. Koenig's presentation. Her insights can provide the tools needed to keep a client working with you for the best possible resolution of their case.

NCDAA President Bob Creager of  Lincoln has represented many attorneys. He is an expert on the ethical issues which confront members of the bar, especially when the client has achieved a high level of noteriety. Balancing quality representation with the practical realities of dealing with an unpopular client can be a huge challenge and the impact of such a situation needs to be considered from the start of representation. You will learn a great deal from "Navigating the Mine Field: Ethical Dilemmas in Representing the High Profile Defendant in a High Profile Case."