2020 Life in the Balance Conference

2020 Life in the Balance

A death penalty and juvenile life without parole training for attorneys and mitigation specialists: Co-Sponsored by: Mississippi Office of State Public Defender; In conjunction with The Deep South Capital Defense Conference; In affiliation with The National Alliance of Sentencing Advocates & Mitigation Specialists

Pre-Registration is now CLOSED. Onsite Registration will be available.

VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE     

Who should attend Life in the Balance? 

Participants must be involved in the defense of persons accused in criminal cases and are typically defense attorneys, mitigation specialists and defense investigators. Participants come from a variety of practice settings and public defender offices; small, solo and large.

Conference Overview 

Join us in Biloxi, Mississippi, for the 2020 Life in the Balance to develop and improve the skills and techniques needed to save lives in all phases of capital defense. 

With more than 30 sessions over three-and-a-half days, Life in the Balance will provide an opportunity to learn from and work with the most successful and forward-thinking attorneys, mitigation specialists, investigators and experts from across the nation. The faculty will offer expert guidance and instruction on such topics as: 

• Juries: how to pick them, talk to them and understand the way they work 
• Mental Health
• Experts in Atkins including Atkins, the MMPI and competence and execution 
• Death Penalty: National updates and recent developments in Death Penalty 
• Race and culture and systemic challenges  
• Miller Experience – Panel to include the Attorney, Mitigation Specialist and Parolee 
• Internet Sleuthing
• Descalation 
• Voire Dire – the Colorado Method

Individual case consultations will also be offered during small group discussions.

Juvenile Life without Parole (JLWOP)

In conjunction with Mississippi Office of the State Public Defender, a limited number of seats will be available for the JLWOP track. Registration for the JLWOP will include the “bring your own case” model along with dynamic sessions: 

• Overview of the Miller Case
• Getting The Most out of Your Miller Evaluation
• The Developmental Factors In Miller V Alabama: What Experts Can Provide

The NASAMS Fundamentals of Mitigation Certificate Program 

(NASAMS Certificate) – Pre Conference 

Will be held in conjunction with the 2020 Life in the Balance Conference. This program will provide participants with training from nationally recognized experts in the field. The small class size will ensure quality instruction, coaching and hands-on learning. In addition, participants will receive sample materials, organizational tools, sample reports and E-tools to assist with their practice. This is an intensive training offered to beginners or professionals who want to refresh their mitigation skills.

Registration for One Day of Life in the Balance (Wednesday, March 4)  for the NASAMS track is included with the Certificate program registration.

Full LIB conference registration is required to attend the entire conference. 

On Wednesday, March 4, the LIB: NASAMS Track will offer sessions in the topic areas of: 

• Investigation 
• Descalation
• Mapping 
• How to Present a mitigation case

Registration    Travel and Accommodations  Tracks and Goals  Featured Speakers    Conference Homepage

  NASAMS Certificate