Out of State Elimination of Bias

DVDs available for Elimination of Bias Credit

IMPORTANT: Attorneys ordering for CLE credit must reside outside of MN

Available for purchase online or by mail/fax.  Click here for printable order form.

The People We Serve: The Crazy, The Dangerous and The Psychopaths

2 Elimination of Bias CLE Credits Minnesota 
Tuition: $125.00

An overview of the Minnesota Commitment Act focusing on legal issues surrounding mentally ill, mentally ill and dangerous, chemical dependent, and sexually dangerous and sexual psychopath petitions and their overlap with criminal prosecution.  This session will focus on the challenges of dealing with these individuals and the inherent bias within the criminal justice system against those with mental impairments.  A prosecutor, defense attorney and court appointed psychologist will offer different perspectives on the commitment process and what to do if you are ever involved in a commitment case.  Interesting and informative even for attorneys not practicing in this area of law.
Presenters:  Mary M. Huot, Esq. [Mary M. Huot, Counselor at Law]; Beth Sullivan, [Assistant Ramsey County Attorney]; Dr. Peter Meyers [Board Certified Psychologist, Founder Red Tail Hawk Services, Inc.: Forensic Assessment Services and First Examiner to Ramsey County]

Jury System Bias?

2 Elimination of Bias CLE credits Minnesota 
Tuition $125.00

The intent of the CLE is to explore the possibility of underlying bias in the jury system, if it exists and if it does to what extent does it affect fairness and justice. After a brief overview of the history of the jury system practitioners in various aspects of the law will address their experiences with the jury system.   Issues to be explored include: Batson challenges - who do they apply to, are they effective, should they be expanded; Juries in smaller jurisdictions -do large employers and businesses in smaller jurisdictions affect jurors’ decisions when they are a party to the case; does jurors knowing the lawyers, judges and parties affect verdicts; Big Business:  do certain jurisdictions exist across the country that demonstrably favor or disfavor big business and corporations in  litigation; and Criminal Cases -  do criminal defendants get a jury of their peers.
Presenters and Panelists: Charlie Clippert, Esq. [Caplan & Tamburino], Phil Duran, Esq., [OutFront Minnesota], Diane Wiley, [National Jury Project], Charles Zimmerman, Esq. [Zimmerman & Reed]

“Because of Sex” – A Discussion of the Existing (and Expanding) Protections Against Gender Identity Discrimination

2.00 Elimination of Bias CLE Credits  
Tuition $125.00 

Existing sex discrimination laws are becoming an increasingly effective source of protections for transgender individuals; however there is still a long way to go to ensure that all individuals are protected from gender identity discrimination.  This seminar will focus on three areas:  

1) Changes in law and policy relating to gender identity at the national level; 
2) Issues relating to gender identity currently being litigated in state courts
3) Perspectives of a transitioned attorney on both practicing law as a transgender attorney and the issues facing both transgender attorneys and clients in the current judicial system.

Presenters: Sharon M. McGowan, [Attorney, Appellate Section, Civil Rights Division, United States Department of Justice], Phil Duran, Legal Director, OutFront Minnesota], Ellen Krug, Esq. [formerly with Krug Law Firm, Cedar Rapids, IA]

Did You Say What I Heard?
Language Barriers in the Courts

2 Elimination of Bias CLE Credits Minnesota 
Tuition: $125.00

Is Spanish always just Spanish? Does everyone classified as speaking Somali speak the exact same language? Just as British English and American English differ greatly and just as American English is riddled with regionalism and colloquialism, what we consider Spanish or Russian or Somali or Hmong is not the same for all speakers of that particular language. In addition, this great melting pot includes many individuals who come from a tradition of spoken rather than written language. Many of our legal concepts are unfamiliar to non-English speakers and there are frequently no words in their language for the concept at issue.

This session will briefly explore the wide variety of languages encountered in our legal system but focus more specifically on the four languages encountered most often: Spanish, Russian, Hmong and Somali. Interpreters for each of those languages will address issues, both serious and humorous, that they have encountered working in the judicial system and suggest strategies for easing the difficulties faced by not only the non-English speaking litigants but by attorneys, judges and staff as well. A must for anyone in the legal system who deals with individuals for whom English is not their first language.

Presenters and Panelists:
Heidi Barba, MN State Court Interpreters Office
Gennady Bronshteyn, Certified Russian Interpreter [GBR Interpreting & Translation]
Abdi Guled Elmi, Certified Somali Interpreter
Dr. Scott Homler, Director U of M Program in Translation & Interpreting
Sally J. Nichols, Certified Spanish Interpreter
Kazoua Yang, Certified Hmong Interpreter