The National Consortium for Capital Defense Training, with the National Coalition to Abolish the
Death Penalty and the American Civil Liberties Union, with the Ohio Public Defender, announce a "Bring-
Your-Own-Case" CAPITAL DEFENSE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING III for capital defense practitioners on
June 9-12, 2011 in Cleveland, OH. The goal of this training is to increase the knowledge base and skills of
capital defense practitioners in the area of mental health.
Space is limited and applicants must attend in teams to maximize multi-disciplinary input in case
brainstorming. Ideally, two-four team members per case should apply, including attorneys, mitigation
specialists, and investigators on a pending capital case. Priority will be given to state and federal trial cases
authorized as capital, or challenges to death sentences in post-conviction proceedings. There is no
registration fee for this program, and travel and accommodations can be subsidized.
This intensive training will include approximately 40 participants from across the country who will
work closely with faculty in large group plenary sessions and small group workshops utilizing a clientcentered
approach and focusing exclusively on mental health issues in capital cases. Topics to be addressed
in the training will include brain development and disorders, cognitive and developmental issues, trauma,
substance abuse, specific mental illnesses and conditions, race and cultural competency in mental health
assessments, strategies for effective representation of a mentally ill client, and the impact of client mental
health issues at every step in capital case proceedings. The program will focus on mental health the first two
days and mental retardation the final day – participants can attend either or both sessions.
Program faculty are leading mental health professionals and capital defense practitioners who focus
on mental health issues, including Denny LeBoeuf, Dr. Scharlette Holdman, Russell Stetler, Dr. Dale Watson,
and Dr. Kathleen Wayland.
Participants will be provided materials with which to apply for CLE credits.
We hope you are able to take advantage of this unique opportunity.
For more information and to apply to attend, contact:
Tanya Greene
Advocacy and Policy Counsel
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th floor
New York, NY 10004
(212) 284-7325 phone
(212) 549-2580 fax
tgreene@aclu.org