University of Texas School of Law
Conference art Artwork Info
2018 Robert O. Dawson
Conference on Criminal Appeals
Austin May 2-4, 2018 AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded
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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Appellate Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
The Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA)
Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA)
 

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

Program Features
UT Law's 2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals features members of the Court of Criminal Appeals and judges from the intermediate courts around Texas joining prosecutors and defense attorneys for discussions on current issues facing the criminal justice system.
 
Highlights include:
  • Tips on Avoiding the Dreaded Non-Compliant “White Card” with a step-by-step walk through of TRAP Rule 73 and 11.07 habeas application compliance.
  • Analysis of legislative and rule changes affecting appellate practitioners, including HB34.
  • Legal writing tips and tricks with Six (or More) Techniques for Readable, Persuasive Sentences and How to Improve Your Brief Writing.
  • Guidance on how to prosecute and defend motions for a new trial from both sides of the aisle.
  • Insight into Maintaining Your Credibility in Court, with discussion of creativity versus credibility and how to zealously advocate for your client without falling on your face.
  • Reviews of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Updates on Brady case law and its associated ethical provisions, and an examination of significant decisions handed down since the Michael Morton Act.
  • The opportunity to earn 13.25 hours of MCLE (including 2.25 hours of ethics) while networking with your fellow practitioners and members of the judiciary.
Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eCourse containing an additional 1.75 hours of MCLE (including 0.75 hours of ethics) to ensure practitioners can earn their required 15.0/3.0 MCLE hours for the year.

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

12/17/18
Schedule

Wednesday Afternoon, May 2, 2018

Presiding Officer:
Carson R. Guy, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

12:30 pm
Registration Opens

Includes light refreshments.

1:20 pm
Welcoming Remarks

1:30 pm

1.00 hr

Significant Decisions of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Analyze significant decisions in the last year and what they mean for criminal law practitioners.

Hon. David C. Newell, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

2:30 pm

0.75 hr

Supreme Court Update

Hear an update on criminal law and criminal procedure cases relevant to Texas criminal appellate practice that were heard and decided by the United States Supreme Court in the 2017 term, and get a preview of hot cases in the pipeline for the 2018 term.

Jennifer E. Laurin, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

3:15 pm
Break

3:30 pm

0.75 hr
0.25 hr ethics

A Guide To Art. 11.07 Writs of Habeas Corpus and Other State Writs

Examine procedures, issues, and do’s and don’ts pertaining to Article 11.07 and other State writs.

Michael F. Stauffacher, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

4:15 pm

0.50 hr
0.25 hr ethics

How to Improve Your Brief Writing

Explore techniques for sharpening your persuasive focus while complying with your ethical obligations when writing briefs.

Kamela Bridges, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

4:45 pm

0.50 hr

Preservation of Error and Standards of Review

Understanding how the Court evaluates the preservation of error on appeal is essential for any practitioner. Explore how the Court approaches different rights, and how this approach impacts your appeal.

Patrick F. McCann, Law Offices of Patrick McCann - Houston, TX

5:15 pm
Adjourn

Thursday Morning, May 3, 2018

Presiding Officer:
Hon. David C. Newell, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

8:00 am
Conference Room Opens

Includes continental breakfast.

9:00 am

0.75 hr

Emerging Issues in PDRs

Discuss significant and emerging issues pending in the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Kathleen Mary Schneider, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX
Stacey Soule, Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney - Austin, TX

9:45 am

0.75 hr

Avoiding the Dreaded Non-Compliant “White Card”

A step-by-step walk through of TRAP Rule 73 and 11.07 habeas application compliance. Plus insight into other reasons for habeas dismissals, including ​discharged sentences, non-final convictions, misdemeanors, juvenile matters, and subsequent applications. 

Alison Fox Dahlberg, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

10:30 am
Break

10:45 am

1.00 hr
0.25 hr ethics

Actual Innocence Claims and 11.073 Writs

Analyze legal issues in actual innocence claims, with particular focus on false evidence leading to wrongful convictions and wrongful convictions based on invalid scientific testimony.

Gary Alan Udashen, Sorrels, Udashen & Anton - Dallas, TX

11:45 am

0.75 hr

Jury Charges

Explore sua sponte instructions and appellate hot topics, and gain practical tips for crafting jury instructions.

Angie Creasy, Travis County District Attorney's Office - Austin, TX
Sarah Beth Landau, Harris County Public Defender's Office - Houston, TX

12:30 pm
Pick Up Lunch

Thursday Afternoon, May 3, 2018

Presiding Officer:
Hon. David C. Newell, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

Luncheon Presentation

12:50 pm

0.50 hr ethics

Maintaining Your Credibility in Court

Discuss creativity versus credibility and how to zealously advocate for your client without falling on your face.

Mandy Goldman Miller, Attorney at Law - Katy, TX

 
1:20 pm
Break

1:35 pm

0.75 hr

Prosecuting and Defending Motions for New Trial

Review the various uses for a motion for new trial including the procedures for filing a motion after trial and on appeal with perspectives from both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. 

Jay R. Brandon, Bexar County District Attorney's Office, Appeals Section - San Antonio, TX
Carmen Roe, Carmen Roe Law Firm, PLLC - Houston, TX

2:20 pm

0.50 hr

Procedures for Bail—Appeals and Writs of Habeas Corpus 

Discuss the procedures for seeking an appellate or writ bond during post-conviction litigation, with insight from the defense and prosecutorial perspectives.

Jennifer Rossmeier Brown, Bexar County District Attorney’s Office - San Antonio, TX

2:50 pm

0.50 hr

Six (or More) Techniques for Readable, Persuasive Sentences

Address sentence-level techniques that can help legal writers create readable, persuasive sentences. Learn to recognize, describe, and appropriately use or avoid techniques including length, subordination, dangling elements, nominalizations, correlative conjunctions, compound prepositions, and more. 

Wayne Schiess, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX

3:20 pm
Break

3:30 pm

0.50 hr

Morton Case Law Update

Analyze significant decisions handed down since the Michael Morton Act was enacted and discuss what they mean for the prosecution and defense.

Patricia J. Cummings, Law Office of Patricia J. Cummings - Round Rock, TX

4:00 pm

1.00 hr
0.50 hr ethics

“Brady” Case Law Update

Explore the practical application of Brady v. Maryland, Article 39.14, and Disciplinary Rule 3.09(d), recent case law, and emerging issues under those ethical provisions.

Inger H. Chandler, Criminal Defense Attorney - Conroe, TX
Lisa Dotin Stewart, Travis County District Attorney's Office - Austin, TX

5:00 pm
Adjourn

Friday Morning, May 4, 2018

Presiding Officer:
Carson R. Guy, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

8:30 am
Conference Room Opens

Includes continental breakfast.

9:00 am

0.75 hr

Recent Legislative and Rule Changes for Criminal Appellate Practitioners

The Legislature focused on wrongful convictions last session and passed significant legislation impacting criminal appellate practitioners. Examine some of the most important legislative changes and notable rule changes.

Holly E. Taylor, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

9:45 am

0.75 hr

Federal Writs and SCOTUS Certs

Review the deadlines and requirements for federal writs and SCOTUS certs, and discuss strategy decisions for each of these filings.
 

Michael C. Gross, Gross & Esparza, P.L.L.C. - San Antonio, TX

10:30 am
Break

10:45 am

0.75 hr

Appellate Tips from the Experts

Get a view from both sides of the criminal bar with practical tips on how appellate advocates and appellate courts can make their briefs and opinions interesting, easier to understand, and less likely to inflame the opposing side or losing party.

Dayna LeAnn Jones, The Law Office of Dayna L. Jones - San Antonio, TX
Enrico Baltazar Valdez, Bexar County District Attorney's Office - San Antonio, TX

11:30 am

0.50 hr ethics

Ethics for Post-Conviction Lawyers

Examine the ethical considerations facing attorneys in post-conviction representation.

Hon. Michael Keasler, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals - Austin, TX

12:00 pm
Adjourn

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

Faculty

Conference Faculty

Jay R. Brandon
Bexar County District Attorney's Office, Appeals Section
San Antonio, TX
Kamela Bridges
The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX
Jennifer Rossmeier Brown
Bexar County District Attorney’s Office
San Antonio, TX
Inger H. Chandler
Criminal Defense Attorney
Conroe, TX
Angie Creasy
Travis County District Attorney's Office
Austin, TX
Patricia J. Cummings
Law Office of Patricia J. Cummings
Round Rock, TX
Alison Fox Dahlberg
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Michael C. Gross
Gross & Esparza, P.L.L.C.
San Antonio, TX
Dayna LeAnn Jones
The Law Office of Dayna L. Jones
San Antonio, TX
Hon. Michael Keasler
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Sarah Beth Landau
Harris County Public Defender's Office
Houston, TX
Jennifer E. Laurin
The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX
Patrick F. McCann
Law Offices of Patrick McCann
Houston, TX
Mandy Goldman Miller
Attorney at Law
Katy, TX
Hon. David C. Newell
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Carmen Roe
Carmen Roe Law Firm, PLLC
Houston, TX
Wayne Schiess
The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX
Kathleen Mary Schneider
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Stacey Soule
Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney
Austin, TX
Michael F. Stauffacher
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Lisa Dotin Stewart
Travis County District Attorney's Office
Austin, TX
Holly E. Taylor
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Gary Alan Udashen
Sorrels, Udashen & Anton
Dallas, TX
Enrico Baltazar Valdez
Bexar County District Attorney's Office
San Antonio, TX

Planning Committee

Hon. Barbara P. Hervey—Co-Chair
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Hon. David C. Newell—Co-Chair
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Deborah Salzberg—Director
The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX
Jay R. Brandon
Bexar County District Attorney's Office, Appeals Section
San Antonio, TX
Patricia J. Cummings
Law Office of Patricia J. Cummings
Round Rock, TX
Alison Fox Dahlberg
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Michael Staats Falkenberg
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Carson R. Guy
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Hon. Michael Keasler
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Austin, TX
Susan Riva Klein
The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX
Michael Scott Taliaferro
Travis County District Attorney's Office
Austin, TX
Rick Wardroup
Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA)
Austin, TX

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

Credit Information

MCLE Credit

Texas
13.25 hrs  |  2.25 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Criminal Appellate Law, Criminal Law, Juvenile Law
Additional Information
A Texas MCLE Reporting Form will be included in your course materials. Please complete and return to the registration desk and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas, or you can self-report your credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided at the conference to keep for your records.  
California
13.25 hrs  |  2.25 hrs Ethics
Additional Information
At the conference, you will need to sign in on the Record of Attendance form at the registration desk. Self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the conference to keep for your records. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  
Oklahoma
16.00 hrs  |  2.50 hrs Ethics
Additional Information
At the conference, you will need to sign in on the Record of Attendance form at the registration desk. You will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the conference to keep for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.
Other States
Note on Self-Reporting Your Credits in Another State
If you wish to satisfy MCLE or other professional education requirements in another state for a program offered by the University of Texas School of Law, please check with the state bar or other licensing authority in that state before taking the program to ensure it will qualify for self-reporting your credits.

Other Credit

TX Accounting CPE
15.80 hrs
Additional Information
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you will need to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion at the conference for your records. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

Key Dates

Austin

  • Last day for Individual early registration: Apr 25, 2018
    Add $50 for registrations received after this time
  • Last day for cancellation (full refund): Apr 27, 2018
  • Last day for cancellation (partial refund): Apr 30, 2018
    $50 processing fee applied

UT Law CLE

2018 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals

Hotel / Venue

Austin

AT&T Conference Center

The University of Texas at Austin
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX
877.744.8822 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$189 room rate good through April 1, 2018 (subject to availability). 

Book your room online here or call the reservations department at 877-744-8822 and reference the Criminal Appeals Conference. The reservations link will be active until the room block is full or the cutoff date of 04/01/18, whichever comes first. 

Parking Information

Free daily self-parking at UT garages. Separate fees apply for valet and overnight parking.