12 <strong>San</strong> <strong>Bernardino</strong> <strong>County</strong> <strong>Bar</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>April</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>April</strong> <strong>2009</strong>The office of the Federal Public Defender(FPD) has agreed to participate in amentoring program designed for EasternDivision attorneys who have little or noprior experience in defending federalcriminal cases. The program will provideattorneys interested in applying to theEastern Division Indigent Defense Panel theopportunity to work on cases with a seniorDeputy Federal Public Defender (DFPD)and receive training in all aspects of federalcriminal procedure.A. Training: Each attorney will attenda mandatory two-day training seminar at theFPD office in Los Angeles. This trainingwill include lectures on bail and detention,post-indictment arraignment, pre-trialdiscovery and motions, trial, post-trialissues, sentencing, and post-sentencingissues. The attorneys will receive MCLEcredit for attending the training seminar.B. Case Assignment: Each attorneywill be assigned to work on a case with asenior DFPD with approximately 15 yearsof experience. The senior DFPD will beappointed counsel and will serve as firstchair. The attorney will serve as secondchair but will not be appointed. All caseswill be assigned early on in the litigation,www.sbcba.orgFederal Public Defender’s Mentoring ProgramBy the Hon. Oswald Parada, U.S.Magistrate Judge, Central District of Californiamost likely soon after the indictment. Theattorneys will be assigned to cases in <strong>San</strong>taAna or Los Angeles due to the limitednumber of DFPDs in Riverside.C. Responsibilities: Each attorneywill be expected to be present at all courtappearances and to participate fully assecond chair in all aspects of the case. Theallocation of responsibilities will depend onthe attorney’s level of experience. Eachattorney will have the opportunity to draftrelevant pleadings, interview potentialwitnesses under supervision, work withinvestigators and other support staff, meetwith the client, prepare jury instructions,prepare trial exhibit binders, participate inall aspects of a jury trial, prepare sentencingpleadings, and participate at the sentencinghearing. The attorneys are not expected tofollow the cases on appeal.D. Follow-Up Training: Each attorneywill be required to attend periodic trialskills workshops at the FPD office. Theseworkshops will be participatory and mayinclude attendance at court appearancesin other cases. The attorneys will receiveMCLE credit for their participation in theseworkshops. In addition, the FPD officewill sponsor specific workshops for panelattorneys on topics such as applicationsfor expert and other services, appropriatebilling practices (including preparation ofvouchers), ethical concerns in criminal cases(including joint defense agreements), clientrelations, and setting up a technologicallyand time-efficient office.E. Monitoring: Throughout the courseof the program, a supervising DFPD willbe available to address any questions orconcerns that may arise. Each attorney andDFPD will submit periodic written updateson the status of the program to the supervisingDFPD. A comprehensive review of both thecase status and the mentor program will beconducted periodically, which will consist ofwritten evaluations from each attorney andDFPD and a meeting with the supervisingDFPD. At the end of the case, final writtenevaluations will be submitted and a final casereview meeting with the supervising DFPDwill take place. All evaluation materials willthen be forwarded to FPD Sean Kennedy fora determination of the attorney’s eligibilityfor the Eastern Division Panel and arecommendation, which will be forwardedto the Criminal Justice Act Committee.F. Recruitment: Notice of the mentoringprogram will be made through the barassociations located in the Eastern Division.If you are interested in participatingin this program or would like additionalinformation, please contact Magistrate JudgeOswald Parada at (951) 328-4430.13I N T R O D U C I N GT h e $5 0 C o n s u l t a t i o nFor those times when you have questions about medical records(Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Criminal, Elder Abuse)but don’t need an in-depth consultation,just pick up the phone and call Legal Nurse Betty!The $50 Consult entitles the caller to a15 - 25 minute telephone conversation withLegal Nurse Betty.ð The $50 Consultation is being offered in response to requests from attorneys forcost-effective access to Certified Legal Nurse Consulting Services.ð To participate in the $50 Consultation the caller must be an attorney licensed to practicein California, or working for a licensed California attorney.ð There is no further obligation. Email questions also accepted.926-926-9590 • 951-551-4722LegalNurseBetty.com • LegalNurseBetty@roadrunner.com • Fax 951-926Legal Nurse Betty, Inc. is a Certified Legal Nurse Consulting Firm owned and operated by Betty A. Lyons, RN, WCC®, CLNC®