MCLE Opportunities

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR SDAP’s ANNUAL SEMINAR

Presentations will include Racial Bias in Jury Selection, SDAP Panel Wins, and Racial Justice Act on Appeal: Recognizing and Challenging Implicit Bias. Justice Daniel H. Bromberg, the Sixth District’s newest justice, will also speak.

*The seminar will provide up to 4.0 hours of MCLE credit, including 2.0 hours in implicit bias.*

Schedule

Registration Link

SAVE THE DATE

The seminar will be held in person on October 10, 2025, at the California Endowment’s conference center in downtown Oakland. Join us for a day of criminal and dependency breakout sessions, a keynote speaker, lunch, and the opportunity to connect with your colleagues.  Topics and registration information to be announced at a later date.

*Approximately 5 hours of MCLE credit, including appellate and criminal specialization, will be provided.*

Unless otherwise noted these trainings are intended for criminal defense team members only, including attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals, mitigation specialists, law office professionals, and other job roles on defense teams.

5/12 – RJA: Lessons from North Carolina v. Bacote
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM  Zoom Registration Link
On February 7, 2025, a North Carolina judge ruled that race played an impermissible role in jury selection in the case of Hasson Bacote, a Black man sentenced to death in 2009, under that state’s Racial Justice Act. Relying on statistical, cultural, historical, and social science in addition to court records and files, it found that Black potential jurors were much more likely to be removed by peremptory challenge in the county and prosecutorial district where Mr. Bacote was tried and by the assistant district attorney who prosecuted him. The court also concluded that “sound statistical evidence” showed that race was a “significant factor in Johnston County juries imposing the death penalty.” Come hear attorneys from the team who represented Mr. Bacote talk about the lessons they learned in this epic litigation and take away ideas for improving the development and presentation of RJA claims in California.
*1.0 hour MCLE Credit in Implicit Bias is offered for this training*

5/14 – What Defenders Need to Know About Restraining Orders
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM – Zoom Registration Link
Defenders are often tasked with making arguments and objections to restraining orders at arraignment or sentencing. This presentation will provide a window into what happens in the family /civil courts when intrafamilial retraining orders are issued by the criminal court. Defenders will learn the differences and standards for different types of civil restraining orders, from emergency, to temporary, to permanent, and walk away with tools on how to argue against these orders to ensure that clients who are parents can minimize separation from their children.
*1 hour MCLE Credit is offered for this training*

5/20 – How Racial Bias within Defense Teams Can Impact Effective Assistance of Counsel
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM – Zoom Registration Link
Does a client’s race or ethnicity impact whether they receive effective assistance of counsel? In this webinar, Professor Alexis Hoag-Fordjour, the author of White is Right: The Racial Construction of Effective Assistance of Counsel, will unpack this question and explore related issues in a thoughtful discussion on racial bias within defense teams. At the end of the webinar, attendees will leave with an understanding of how their own racial bias can impact representation.
*1 hour MCLE Credit in Recognition of Bias is offered for this training*

5/29 The Impact of Power and Privilege
12:15 PM – 1:30 PM – Zoom Registration Link
Power and privilege play a role in the advantages and disadvantages that people experience based on social, economic, LGBTQ+ status, as well as gender, race and other factors. In part three of IDID’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging on the workplace series, attorney Tatiana Kline will discuss how power and privilege might lead to systemic inequality in the workplace. At the end of the webinar, attendees will leave understanding how their own privilege impacts power dynamics in their office and with practical steps to create more inclusive workplace.
*1.25 hours of MCLE Credit in Recognition and Elimination of Bias is offered for this training*

Racial Justice On-Demand Course
“OSPD is excited to open a new on-demand course on the Racial Justice Act. You will learn all the basics, refresh your knowledge, and stay up to date on RJA developments! These videos and written materials have been collected from around the state and are meant to help practitioners regardless of their experience in litigating the RJA.”

*Participants are able to earn up to 10 hours MCLE self-study and specialty credit.
Information & Registration Link

Defending Against SVP Commitments On-Demand Course
This course is intended for anyone in Indigent defense looking to learn more about Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) petitions and defending against these civil commitments. Those taking this course from start to finish can expect to spend approximately 9 hours to complete. However, registrants should also feel free to take this course at their own pace. Completion of this course earns 8.25 hours of general MCLE credits.

*Participants are able to earn up to 8.25 hours of MCLE self-study credit.
Information & Registration Link