August 2024
What are the benefits of using artificial intelligence tools in a law office? What are the drawbacks?
Articles in this Issue
-
Affiliate News
What events are NACDL affiliates hosting this month? Find out here.
-
Book Review: Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison by Chris Hedges
This month Jeff Gamso reviews Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison by Chris Hedges.
-
Book Review: Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable by Joanna Schwartz
This month Matthew T. Mangino reviews Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable by Joanna Schwartz.
-
Criminalizing the Right to Vote
Today’s criminalization of voting rights focuses on citizens who have been convicted of felony offenses. Voting laws are constantly changing, and people are understandably confused. Criminalization should not occur when mens rea is lacking. Citizens with felony convictions do not lose their right to an attorney, the right to remain silent, or the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. Why should they lose the right to vote?
-
From the President: Thank You
Criminal defense lawyers stand as a bulwark against the forces that would seek to erase the rights and humanity of people accused of committing a crime. Standing as a fortress takes incredible courage, but the fearlessness of defense advocates is nothing new. History is filled with examples of defenders who risked their careers, reputations, and personal safety to stand up for their clients.
-
In Memoriam: Nation’s Defense Bar Mourns Loss of Legal Titan Neal R. Sonnett
The nation’s criminal defense bar mourns the loss of legal titan Neal R. Sonnett.
-
NACDL News: NACDL Applauds Biden’s Pardons of Veterans Unjustly Convicted Under Military Code
NACDL News for August 2024
-
NACDL News: NACDL Calls for Immediate Action to Combat Rampant Prosecutorial Misconduct in Florida
NACDL News for August 2024
-
NACDL News: NACDL Sues DOJ for Transparency on New Charging and Sentencing Policies Under FOIA
NACDL News for August 2024
-
Noncitizens in Criminal Investigations and at Sentencing
For noncitizen defendants convicted of a deportable offense, the punitive and rehabilitative undertones of the American justice system play out differently than they do for U.S. citizens. Instead of rehabilitation, they are exposed to the most punitive undertones of the penal code, even for many nonviolent offenses. Defendants may face life-changing consequences, such as being torn away from the lives they established in the United States. Counsel must take these special considerations into account when representing noncitizen clients.
-
Police DUI Videos: Watch and Win
Analyzing an officer’s video in a DUI case is one of defense counsel’s most crucial tasks. And watching the video is not the only issue. When should counsel examine the video? What should counsel look for? How can one use what one sees or does not see? Who should view the video first – defense counsel or the client? Juanita Kimble answers these questions and more.
-
The Bronx Defenders: Juval Scott Takes the Helm
Juval Scott is embarking on a new role as the executive director of The Bronx Defenders. She believes public defenders are the proverbial line in the sand between the ferocious government and the vulnerable individual.
-
The Future of Advocacy: The Trial Lawyer’s Guide to Large Language Model Generative AI
Large Language Models (LLMs), which are a subset of artificial intelligence technologies, have the potential to transform the legal field. LLM applications range from automating routine tasks like document review to creating complex legal documents. However, practitioners must be cognizant of the ethical and legal issues stemming from the use of artificial intelligence. The reliability of LLM-generated legal advice, the protection of client confidentiality, and the maintenance of professional integrity are paramount concerns.