Articles in this Issue

1. Affiliate News

   What events are NACDL affiliates hosting this month? Find out here.

   Jessica Stepan

2. Book Review: Elegant Legal Writing by Ryan McCarl

   This month Jon May reviews Elegant Legal Writing by Ryan McCarl.

   Jon May

3. Book Review: Halfway Home by Reuben Jonathan Miller

   This month David McKnight reviews Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration by Reuben Jonathan Miller.

   David McKnight

4. Book Review: The Worst Thing We’ve Ever Done by Carol Menaker

   This month Victoria Nadel reviews The Worst Thing We’ve Ever Done by Carol Menaker.

   Victoria Nadel

5. From the President: Defending America

   After his conviction, Donald Trump unleashed an unprecedented attack on the American legal system. It is time for defense lawyers to defend the best – though flawed – legal system in the history of the world.

   Michael P. Heiskell

6. NACDL News: Hoffman Earns Inaugural NACDL Employee of the Year Award

   NACDL News for July 2024

   Quintin Chatman

7. NACDL News: NACDL Honors Renowned Baltimore Attorney William ‘Billy’ Murphy, Jr.

   NACDL News for July 2024

   Jessie Diamond, Kate Holden, and Jonathan Hutson

8. NACDL News: NACDL Offers CLE on Voir Dire and Cross-Examination in Pregnancy Loss and Abortion Cases

   NACDL News for July 2024

   Monica Milton

9. NACDL News: NACDL Presents Two Awards in Baltimore

   NACDL News for July 2024

   Jessie Diamond, Kate Holden, and Jonathan Hutson

10. NACDL News: NACDL Urges Decriminalization of Marijuana and Clemency for Nonviolent Cannabis Offenses

    NACDL News for July 2024

    Jessie Diamond, Kate Holden, and Jonathan Hutson

11. Pozner on Cross: Chunking Information

    Using a Number as an Organizational Framework for an Important Group of Related Facts

    On cross-examination, how can a defense attorney use a number as an organizational framework for an important group of related facts?

    Larry Pozner

12. The Ethical Internal Investigator

    Patrick O’Donnell highlights some of the ethics issues that arise in internal investigations. How can competent counsel also take care to be ethical counsel?

    Patrick O’Donnell

13. The Story of a Life

    Uncovering Deep Levels of Sentence Mitigation Using Psychodramatic Action Techniques

    Psychodrama, sometimes called drama therapy or action therapy, employs role playing to explore emotional and psychological issues. Psychodramatic techniques have seldom been applied in the sentencing phase of noncapital cases – until now.

    Patrick T. Barone and Doug Passon

14. United in the Pursuit of Justice

    Jennifer Sellitti was sworn in as the New Jersey Public Defender in 2024. Here are excerpts from the remarks she made at the swearing-in ceremony.

    Jennifer Sellitti

15. Using Theme and Theory to Tell a Client’s Story

    Lawyers tell the story of a client’s case by employing themes and theories. After the theme and theory are in place, they influence everything from voir dire to closing argument.

    Penny J. White

16. Voir Dire in Sex Offense Cases

    Defense lawyers often ask voir dire questions that do not help them identify the prospective jurors they do not want. Instead, the questions allow the prosecution to identify the jurors it wants to strike. What are some tips to help defense counsel remove jurors who cannot accept the theory of nonguilt?

    Melanie Foote