Improving Case Outcomes Using Experts, Investigators, and Mitigation Specialists

NACDL, through its Justice For All (JFA) grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, is partnering with Wayne County's Indigent Defense Services Department to offer a FREE training program specially for public defense attorneys in Wayne County. This multi-session program is designed by nationally renown trainer, Deja Vishny and features a mix of presentations and small group break out sessions. All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing on-demand by registered participants. The program agenda is below.

Space is limited to 100 participants.

To register, complete the online registration form. After completing the form, you will receive an email confirming your registration and providing further information regarding online access to program.

If you have any questions about the program or the registration process, please contact us at: JFA@nacdl.org.

Program Agenda

Friday, Sept. 17 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 1: How Investigation Makes a Difference (Webinar) Welcoming Remarks & Our Goals Mission Wayne County IDSD Theory-guided investigation Deja Vishny Witness interviewing & scene views Connie Culpepper Case Examples: Where investigation made a difference Deja Vishny
Friday, Oct. 1 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 2: Selected Topics in Investigation Part I (Webinar) Investigating law enforcement Kimberley Motley Investigations with child witnesses Kathleen Stilling Scene investigation Ricky Burems Investigating Snitches Michael Carter
Friday, Oct. 8 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 3: Selected Topics in Investigation Part II (Webinar) Social Media Investigation Kevin McClain Racial Bias and Investigation Heather Pinckney Investigating eyewitness identifications and confession cases Deja Vishny Explanation of Breakout Session Deja Vishny
Friday, Oct. 22 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 4: Small Group Breakout #1 (Web breakouts) Overview: instructions and send people to breakouts Breakout groups will brainstorm the investigation and interview a witness
Friday, Oct. 29 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 5: Expert Witnesses (Webinar) Forensic Science in your case & when you need an expert Callie Steele Finding an expert Angela Peterson & Neil Leithauser Tips from an expert on working together Dr. Lawrence T. White Working with experts and preparing them to testify Deja Vishny Handling discovery issues with expert reports Kristin LaVoy
Friday, Nov. 5 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 6: Mitigation Specialists (Webinar) Dana Mertz & Marilena David-Martin
Friday, Nov. 19 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm ET	Session 7: Small Group Breakout #2 (Web breakouts) Overview: instructions and send people to breakouts Breakout groups will request investigations & experts and receive reports
Friday, Dec. 3 Time and Location TBD	Session 8: Bringing it All Together Program Introduction Deja Vishny Breakouts- Case evaluation & theory of defense after investigation & experts Plenary: Working with & leading the defense team Lori James Townes How to find and use resources where you practice Mitigation films

Deja Vishny is a criminal defense lawyer, consultant and trainer based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. She specializes in the defense of homicide and false confession cases and has a reputation as one of the top lawyers in those areas.

Deja has lectured for criminal defense associations, public defender offices, state bar associations and NGO’s on various aspects of trial practice in over 40 states and in India. Deja attended the Reid School of Interrogation and published numerous articles in The Champion and The Wisconsin Defender on cross-examining police interrogators.

She is on the faculty of the National Criminal Defense College and teaches annually at the National Forensics College at Cardozo Law School. She served multiple terms on the Boards of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Wisconsin State Bar Criminal Law Section. She is currently a member of the National Criminal Defense College’s Board of Regents. In 2015, the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers presented her with a lifetime achievement award for the defense of the indigent accused.

Prior to entering private practice, from 1980 to 2018, Deja was a public defender in Wisconsin, where she was well-respected as a trial lawyer and became the statewide Homicide Practice Coordinator and Deputy Training Director. She is an adjunct professor teaching trial advocacy at Marquette University Law School. She is also the author of Suppressing Criminal Evidence, now in its 3rd edition.