Bridging the Gap VIII Mitigation Conference 2024

Registration is now OPEN for the 2024 Bridging the Gap VIII Mitigation Conference.

Preparing a capital case for trial is difficult. You know the state’s case. You have figured out some sort of defense. You must plan for a sentence hearing. All the planning is directed towards convincing one or more jurors to vote for life even though they believe in the death penalty. This conference focuses on the moment in time of the killing. That will be on the minds of the jurors. Somehow, we must give the jurors reasons for life, which is called mitigation. But the presentation of mitigation must break through the hard crust of a belief in the death penalty, a belief that you are responsible for your actions, an eye for an eye. Just telling the jury about your client’s mental problems and childhood problems will not break the crust. We must show how those issues and life problems affected the client’s decision to be at the scene and deciding to kill someone. We will use the fictitious case of State v. Thomas Johnson. We will try to figure out why Thomas was in the parking lot trying to rob someone and why he shot and killed the victim. From there we gather and review all his records and history looking for clues to the why. We have gathered an amazing group of speakers who will explain how to recognize issues and problems the client has and explain how those issues and problems affected the moment in time when Thomas killed someone. We will then, with the help of the attendees, figure out the best way to tell the client’s story to the jury.

The seminar will be a live, in person conference in Asheville, NC November 12-14, 2024.

The seminar will be at the Crowne Plaza, 1 Resort Drive, Asheville.
The Crowne Plaza has reserved a block of rooms at $89.10 per night.

Link to the Agenda

See also: A MOMENT IN TIME and Case study – Wymore August 2024

REGISTRATION:

Attorneys: $280.00 (this includes the CLE fees for the State Bar)

Mitigation specialists: $230.00

Fact investigators: $230.00

Others: $230.00

HOW TO REGISTER:

Please mail a check or money order payable to IDS:

     Jennifer Webster

     Office of the Capital Defender

     123 West Main Street, Suite 210

     Durham, NC 27701

The link to the hotel is below.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR BOOKING YOUR ROOM AT THE REDUCED RATE IS OCTOBER 22, 2024.

• The seminar begins Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at noon. This gives you time to travel to Asheville Tuesday morning.
• The seminar ends Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 1:00 pm. This gives you time to travel home Thursday afternoon.
• Therefore, for those of you not in the Asheville area, you would need a room for Tuesday and Wednesday night, being November 12 and 13.
• However, the hotel has agreed to offer shoulder dates at the same discounted rate for Monday, November 11, 2024, and Thursday, November 14, 2024.
• So, you can stay Monday night until Friday morning at the same discounted rate if you like.
• Note to state employees and presenters: Feel free to use the shoulder dates, but you will not be reimbursed for those dates. You will only be reimbursed for hotel expenses for Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Register now, book your room (by October 22), and come enjoy the training, the fellowship, and the mountains.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions, contact either Terry Alford, [email protected] or Jennifer Webster, [email protected].

***SPECIAL NOTE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES:

• State employees must get PRIOR APPROVAL to attend this seminar to seek reimbursement, using the form AOC-A-182. You can then register and reserve your room. If you have prior approval, you do not have to pay the registration fee as IDS will cover this fee.
• You need to let Jennifer Webster know you are attending.
• You need to book your own hotel room and pay for the room. After the seminar, you can seek reimbursement for mileage, hotel, and meals per state rates and rules.

SPECIAL NOTE TO PRESENTERS:

Presenters do not have to pay the registration fee but need to book your own room. Presenters will pay for their rooms but can seek reimbursement.

HERE IS THE LINK TO BOOK YOUR ROOM:

Call toll-free number 1-844-330-0296 (24/7) and mention Bridging the Gap VIII- Mitigation in order to receive the special group rate.

For In-House reservations attendees can call local number during normal business hours 828-285-2603 and mention the group name.

To register online click this link: (not mobile compatible): Bridging the GAP VIII- Mitigation