reframing resentencing change the tenor of your hearing by changing the nature of the conversation
Post on 19-Jan-2016
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reframing resentencing
change the tenor of your hearing by changing the nature of the conversation
change the conversation with yourself
•purpose of the hearing •process driven, not outcomes-driven • restorative justice model •capital case model • the “ultimate question”
the only question that matters: can he someday rehabilitate?
change the conversation within your case
•your client•your client’s community•victims and survivors•experts
your client
• relationship + rapport • restorative justice materials•proximity + safety • local transportation•multiple team members •giving •what has your client given?•what else can he give?
giving
•motivation• letters/direct actions • victims• survivors• client’s family/community•meaningful indirect actions• spiritual• recovery• advice to others
your client’s community
•does your client’s community believe that he can rehabilitate? • family• teachers/counselors • spiritual figures • COs
your client’s community
• relationship + rapport •empowerment•bring them together •give them jobs •storytelling + concrete examples as exhibits
your client’s community
victims + survivors
•your motives + intentions•your communication style •strategy concerns • stoke vs. diffuse
•your expectations
no expectations
experts
•opine on the ultimate question?•prison expert• juvenile brain development •advantages vs. pitfalls • clear record • trust •overreaching•opening the door
change the conversation in court: Miller factors, not sentencing factors
framing the briefs
framing the briefs • sentence is unconstitutional unless court
considers Miller factors
• aggravating vs. mitigating factors are secondary considerations and are encompassed within Miller factors
• frame + relate everything to miller factors • sentencing briefs • exhibits and documents • live testimony• opening + closing statements
framing the hearing
• administrative expectation-setting• multiple days• live witnesses• special setting • briefing schedule
• substantive expectation-setting• acknowledge victims + survivors• opening statement
good morning
mitigation video
• admissibility• the mitigation video of family members is nothing
more than a collection of “unsworn written statement[s]” and, as such, is permitted in a criminal sentencing.
• EC 250 (“writing”)• California Rules of Court 4.4115
• supplement/alternative to live witnesses • short thematic snapshot • logistics: language, distance, cost• humanizing, comfortable environment• props • fragile witnesses
mitigation video
live testimony
• your client’s community • prepared through purpose• difficult cross questions (can backfire for DA) • counterbalances live victim/survivor testimony
• experts• allows for court questions• more thorough explanation• different learning/absorption styles• setting traps
your client’s testimony
• motivation• preparation• purpose• cross-examination practice • even if you don’t think you need it …
• timing
• admissibility of other important documents• healing • empowerment
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