Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
and
Loyola’s Journal of Public Interest Law
present
“Prosecutorial Immunity: Deconstructing Connick v. Thompson”

Details

• Thursday, November 3, 2011
  12:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
  The event is free and open to the public.
   
• Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
  526 Pine Street, Room 308
  New Orleans, LA 70118

Description

On March 29, 2011, the Supreme Court of the United States decided a landmark case involving an innocent man, Mr. John Thompson, who was incarcerated for 18 years, including 14 years on death row in Louisiana’s Angola prison. One month before his scheduled execution date, his investigator discovered exculpatory evidence that a prosecutor had intentionally suppressed, and the discovery of this new evidence ultimately saved Mr. Thompson’s life and led to his release from prison.

At Loyola’s symposium, Mr. Thompson will share his powerful story about his experiences with the justice system. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Loyola’s symposium brings together distinguished experts who will discuss the many legal issues of the Supreme Court case, which has important implications for our criminal justice system and the accountability of local governments for the misconduct of its prosecutors. Speakers include Barry Scheck, a leading expert regarding the use of DNA evidence at trial and co-director of the Innocence Project; Sheldon Nahmod, a leading expert regarding government liability for violations of civil rights; Bennett Gershman, a leading expert regarding prosecutorial misconduct; Denise LeBoeuf, director of ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project; and several other experts and attorneys who were involved in this landmark litigation.

Speakers

• Professor Barry Scheck, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and co-director, Innocence Project (Keynote address)
• Mr. William Aaron, Managing Shareholder of Aaron, PLC
• Professor Dane Ciolino, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (Moderator)
• Mr. Gary Clements, Director of Capital Post-Conviction Project of Louisiana
• Professor Bennett Gershman, Pace Law School
• Professor Adam Gershowitz, University of Houston Law Center
• Professor Michelle Ghetti, Southern University Law Center
• Professor Shenequa Grey, Southern University Law Center
• Mr. Paul Killebrew, Attorney at Innocence Project New Orleans
• Ms. Denise LeBoeuf, Director of ACLU’s Capital Punishment Project
• Mr. Graymond Martin, First Assistant District Attorney, Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office
• Ms. Emily Maw, Director of Innocence Project New Orleans
• Professor Sheldon Nahmod, Chicago-Kent School of Law
• Ms. Tory Pegram, Campaign Coordinator of International Campaign to Free the Angola 3
• Professor William Quigley, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law (Moderator)
• Professor Kathleen Ridolfi, Santa Clara University School of Law
• Professor Steve Singer, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law
• Mr. John Thompson, Exoneree, Founder and Director of Resurrection after Exoneration
• Professor Sam Wiseman, University of Tulsa College of Law

CLE Credit

Loyola has been approved by the Louisiana State Bar for CLE accreditation for this program, and we are giving 4.33 hours of CLE credit, including 1.5 ethics hours.  This CLE program is available for the charge of $25 for attorneys who wish to receive CLE credit.

Copies of the Symposium Issue

The Journal of Public Interest Law will be publishing this symposium in their upcoming volume.  For more information or to request a copy, please visit the journal website.