Handling High Profile Criminal Cases

Co-sponsored with
the Center for Advanced Legal Studies and the Macaronis Institute for Trial and Appellate Advocacy

It is often mistakenly assumed that high profile trials involve only cases like the trial of Whitey Bulger or the Aaron Hernandez case. However, they also include both criminal and civil trials where the parties involved in litigation attract intense public and media interest to the trial. At a time when everyone—media, jurors, witnesses—are electronically sophisticated, high profile trials raise issues that require special skills on the part of both the lawyers and judges involved in the trial.

Handling High Profile Criminal Cases addresses the multitude of issues that can arise. The distinguished faculty includes lawyers and judges who have been involved in recent trials. They will teach and demonstrate the skills necessary to successfully navigate problems that might occur in the courtroom.

SCHEDULE

4:00 p.m. | Welcome & Introductions
Honorable John M. Greaney (ret.)

4:10 p.m. | Pretrial Publicity

• SJC Rule 1:19
• Media Orders and “Gag” Orders
• Pre-Trial Motions
• Potential Impact on Jurors
• Venue Changes

Honorable Linda E. Giles, Hank B. Brennan and Brian T. Kelly

4:40 p.m. | Jury Selection

• Jury Questionnaires
• Voir Dire
• Sequestration
• Juror Use of Electronic Devices

Honorable George A. O’Toole, Jr. , Jocelyn V. Cinquino, Thomas M. Hoopes and Edmond Zabin

5:10 p.m. | Media and Social Media Issues during Trial

• Limitations on Number of Media Representatives
• Cellphones, Blogging and Tweeting in Courtroom

Honorable Linda E. Giles and Honorable George A. O’Toole, Jr.

5:40 p.m. | Q & A

6:00 p.m. | Networking Break

6:15 p.m. | Security Issues

• Spectator Control
• Jurors
• Views

Honorable Linda E. Giles, Thomas M. Hoopes and Edmond Zabin

6:45 p.m. | Post-Verdict Issues

• Access to Jurors
• Juror Identification

Honorable George A. O’Toole, Jr., Hank B. Brennan and Brian T. Kelly

7:15 p.m. | Q & A

7:30 p.m. | Conclude

PANELISTS

Honorable John M. Greaney, Program Chair
Director, Macaronis Institute for Trial & Appellate Advocacy, Suffolk University Law School

Honorable Linda E. Giles
Superior Court

Honorable George A. O’Toole, Jr.
U.S. District Court, Massachusetts

Hank B. Brennan, Esq.
Carney & Bassil

Jocelyn V. Cinquino, Esq.
MMG Jury Consulting

Brian T. Kelly, Esq.
Nixon Peabody LLP

Thomas M. Hoopes, Esq.
Libby & Hoopes

Edmond Zabin, Esq.
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office