The Foundation for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the VERITAS Initiative, and the Santa Clara University School of Law cordially invite you to the official release of
MATERIAL INDIFFERENCE:
How Courts Are Impeding Fair Disclosure in Criminal Cases
Featuring
The Honorable Alex Kozinski
Chief Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
and
Former Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden
Joined by
Todd H. Fries, Pro Bono Research Attorney, The VERITAS Initiative, Santa Clara University School of Law
Tiffany M. Joslyn, Counsel, White Collar Crime Policy, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Norman L. Reimer, Executive Director, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Kathleen “Cookie” Ridolfi, Director, The VERITAS Initiative, Santa Clara University School of Law
Theodore Simon, President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Press Club
529 14th St. NW, Holeman Lounge, Washington, DC 20045
Monday, November 17, 2014 at 12:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served
Open to the public and the press
RSVP by Nov. 12, 2014 at http://material-indifference-release.eventbrite.com
In courtrooms across the nation, accused persons are convicted without ever having seen information that was favorable to their defense. The frequency with which this occurs and the role it plays in wrongful convictions prompted NACDL and the VERITAS Initiative to undertake an unprecedented study of Brady claims litigated in federal courts over a five-year period. The Study asked: What role does judicial review play in the disclosure of favorable information to accused? The results revealed a troubling answer—the judiciary is impeding fair disclosure in criminal cases and, in doing so, encouraging prosecutors to disclose as little favorable information as possible. We invite you to join us for this report release and a conversation about this serious problem and the reforms that could provide much needed relief.
On November 17, the report will be available online at: www.nacdl.org/discoveryreform/materialindifference.
Contacts
NACDL Communications Department
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.