Annual Meeting Highlights

The CJS sponsored an Annual CLE Showcase panel—“Cryptocurrency Law: The Wild West or the Financing of the Future?”—in which panelists discussed the current legal and regulatory regimes that govern this space and the need for standards and further regulation. The Section cosponsored another CLE Showcase panel—“The Future of Policing: Ending Senseless Violence and Igniting Transformative Reform”—where panelists discussed limits on qualified immunity for police, a ban on no-knock warrants, and holding police officers accountable as transformative reform measures.

The Section also presented its annual program, “Annual Review and Preview of the Supreme Court’s Term, Criminal Cases.”

Outgoing CJS Chair April Frazier Camara gave her closing statements as chair and passed the gavel to Incoming Chair Wayne McKenzie, who will lead the Section through the 2021–2022 ABA year.

The Criminal Justice Council voted to submit five resolutions at the Annual Meeting to the ABA House of Delegates. The House of Delegates adopted the following Criminal Justice Section–sponsored resolutions:

• 503—Urges Congress to create and fund to study the consequences of the mass incarceration of African Americans living in the U.S.
• 504—Urges prosecutors to update their case management systems, allowing for transparency to ensure a more fair and equitable justice system.
• 505—Urges raising the minimum age of “juvenile delinquents” to 14.
• 506—Urges lawmakers to end the use of chemical agents on youth in juvenile/correctional facilities; educate justice system personnel about adverse effects of chemical agents on children.
• 507—Urges abolishment of private prisons and termination of contracts with private prisons.

Legal Education Police Practices Consortium

Responding to ongoing calls to apply a transformative, evidence-based approach to policing, the Criminal Justice Section is proud to announce the formal launch of the Legal Education Police Practices Consortium (the Consortium). The Consortium will contribute to the national effort examining and addressing legal issues in policing and public safety, including the conduct, oversight, and evolving nature of police work, leveraging the ABA’s expertise and that of the 55 law schools currently enrolled. Member universities have access to the ABA’s library of policing policies, policing course curricula currently being taught across the Consortium, as well as research projects designed by librarians at participating law schools. The Consortium intends to partner with policing agencies and organizations across the country to strengthen opportunities for information sharing and collaboration between legal scholars and police departments.

For additional information, please visit the project page at http://www.americanbar.org/groups/criminal_justice/police_practices. If any law school is interested in joining the Consortium, please contact Jessalyn Brogan Walker at [email protected].

Committee Activities

• The Defense Function Committee hosted the panel “FCPA Prosecutions and Investigations: Where Are We now.”
• The Young Lawyers Committee hosted the panel “Moving Criminal Justice Online: Challenges and Opportunities for Young Attorneys.”
• The Homeland Security, Terrorism & Treatment of Enemy Combatants Committee hosted the panel “Guantanamo & Beyond: A Panel Discussion on Military Commissions, Torture & the Way Forward.”
• The Mental Health Committee hosted the documentary screening and Q&A “Ernie and Joe: Crisis Cops Q&A Discussion.”
• The White Collar Crime Committee’s Ethics Subcommittee hosted the panels “Ethical Considerations Surrounding the New Brady Rule” and “Navigating the Ethical Minefield When Lawyers Become Witnesses, Subjects, or Targets of Investigation.”
• The WCCC New England/Boston Region Subcommittee hosted the panel “False Claims Act Enforcement in 2021: Hot Topics and How to Mitigate Risk.”

These panels can be viewed on the CJS YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/ABACriminalJustice.

Upcoming Events

• Oct. 27–29: 36th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime, Miami, Florida
• Nov. 19–20: 13th Annual Fall Institute (“Probation and Parole Reform & Best Practices”), Washington, DC
• March 2–4, 2022: 37th Annual National Institute on White Collar Crime, San Francisco, CA

For the complete list of CJS events, see http://www.ambar.org/cjsevents.

Recent Publications

The State of Criminal Justice 2021, Edited by Mark Wojcik

This annual publication examines and reports on the major issues, trends, and significant changes in the criminal justice system. Authors from across the criminal justice field provide essays on topics ranging from white collar crime to international law to juvenile justice. As one of the cornerstones of the Criminal Justice Section’s work, this publication serves as an invaluable resource for policy-makers, academics, and students of the criminal justice system alike.

The Rights of the Accused Under the Sixth Amendment: Trials, Presentation of Evidence, and Confrontation, Third Edition, By Paul Marcus, David Duncan, Tommy Miller, and Joelle Moreno

Both criminal defense lawyers and criminal prosecutors must thoroughly understand the rights of the accused under the Sixth Amendment in order to provide competent service and ensure that they are following all court procedures according to the rule of law. This book offers fascinating historical perspective, modern interpretations, and insight on this critical component of the US Constitution.

Federal Criminal Discovery, Second Edition, By Robert M. Cary, Craig Singer, and Simon Andrew Latcovich

Federal Criminal Discovery thoroughly covers each of the different methods of discovery available to the parties in federal criminal cases. It serves as an invaluable resource for judges, academics, prosecutors, and defense lawyers by providing an exhaustive discussion on the statutory and constitutional bases for discovery, and by covering the existing law fairly while examining all sides of the issues. This second edition brings this essential guide up to date with the latest significant cases and developments in the law. All chapters have been updated with new authorities and changes to the law since the first edition.

For information on CJS publications, see http://www.ambar.org/cjsbooks.