United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 14:11

Registration Open for the Fourth Circuit Criminal Appellate Practice Seminar - December 9, 2024

Fourth Circuit
Criminal Appellate Practice Seminar

Date: December 9, 2024Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is pleased to announce the Criminal Appellate Practice Seminar to be held in Richmond, Virginia, on Monday, December 9, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The Seminar is free of charge, but registration is required.

Event Overview:

8:30 am Welcome: Circuit Judge Julius N. Richardson

Updates from the U.S. Sentencing Commission
In this session on federal sentencing, hear directly from Judge Carlton W. Reeves, Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission. Judge Reeves will provide an overview of recent amendments to the Sentencing Guidelines and discuss the Commission's priorities for the upcoming year.

Hon. Carlton W. Reeves, District Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

9:15 am

Nuts and Bolts of Appellate Brief Writing
Former Acting Solicitor General of the United States Jeff Wall leads a practical session on the nuts and bolts of effective written advocacy and shares his tips on putting together a persuasive appellate brief.
Read Ahead for this session: Spirit Opening Brief, Spirit Reply Brief

Jeff Wall, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
10:15 am Break
10:25 am Emerging Issues in Criminal Law
Join Appellate Chiefs Joshua Carpenter and Amy Ray for an overview of recent Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit decisions in areas of criminal law that they see most rapidly developing in their practice. Their discussion will include decisions related to constitutional issues arising out of the Second, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments; fraud and anti-corruption prosecutions; Sentencing Guidelines and regulatory issues; and sex-offense prosecutions.

Joshua B. Carpenter, Appellate Chief, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Western District of North Carolina
Amy Ray, Appellate Chief, Office of the United States Attorney, Western District of North Carolina

11:10 am A Peek Behind the Scenes
Do you ever wonder what's going on with your appeal between the filing of the notice of appeal and the date the appeal is decided? How is the briefing schedule set, what factors are considered in deciding whether to grant an extension of time, and who ensures that all of the appropriate documents are filed? How are cases selected for oral argument, and what happens to the cases that are not orally argued? What resources are available through the Court's Library? These questions and more will be addressed by the Clerk of Court, Counsel to the Clerk, the Circuit Librarian, and the Senior Staff Attorney.
Nwamaka Anowi, Clerk of Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Suzanne Corriell, Circuit Librarian, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Melissa L. Wood, Senior Staff Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Amanda Culbreth Bryan, Counsel to the Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Moderator: Mark O'Brien, Chief Deputy Clerk, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
12:10 am On-Site Buffet Lunch
1:20 pm Advocacy in Criminal Appeals: Perspectives from the Bench
Join Judges Stephanie D. Thacker and Julius N. Richardson as they share practical advice for effective appellate advocacy in criminal appeals, answering questions about Fourth Circuit practice and procedure, and offering strategies for both written briefs and oral arguments.

Hon. Stephanie D. Thacker, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Hon. Julius N. Richardson, Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Moderator: Mary Claire Davis, Teaching Associate Professor, West Virginia University College of Law

2:20 pm
 Tips and Tricks for Effective Oral Argument
This experienced panel of appellate litigators will discuss the art of oral advocacy, including preparation, argument presentation, handling questions from the judges, and effective use of rebuttal time.

Ryan Park, Solicitor General of North Carolina
Jonathan Y. Ellis, Partner, McGuireWoods
Morgan L. Ratner, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

3:05 pm
 Break
3:15 pm
 Ethical Considerations in Criminal Appeals
How do you strike the balance between briefing the strongest arguments and including issues that your client may wish to raise in post-conviction proceedings? Who decides which issues to raise on appeal? When is it appropriate to file an Anders brief? What unique challenges in communication do you face in criminal appeals, and how do you overcome them? How can you best honor the duty of candor? What can you discuss with court personnel without violating the prohibition against ex parte communications? Chief Judge Albert Diaz moderates a discussion on these and other thorny ethical issues that may arise in your appellate criminal practice.
James P. Cooney III, Partner, Womble Bond Dickinson LLP
Emily Hedrick, Ethics Counsel, Virginia State Bar
Stacy Ludwig, Director, Professional Responsibility Advisory Office, U.S. Department of Justice
Moderator: Hon. Albert Diaz, Chief Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
4:15 pm

Closing Remarks - Chief Circuit Judge Albert Diaz

Conference Materials

Continuing Legal Education

CLE credit will be sought in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. If you wish to apply for CLE credit in other states, course material will be made available for you to submit to your state's bar.

Questions

Contact [email protected].