Materials

UT Law CLE's 2024 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 balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system, including:  A review of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court from the past year. The Intersection of Science and the Law highlights the increasing importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system.  Participate in an interactive conversation with representatives from all sides of 11.07 writ litigation in Writ Panel. Hear practical advice from judges during two judicial panels; the Court of Appeals Judicial Panel and the Court of Criminal Appeals Judicial Panel. Explore legal writing, statutory interpretation, writing findings of fact, and more.  Join your colleagues and conference faculty at the Wednesday Evening Opening Reception co-sponsored by the Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas and the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas.   Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional hours of MCLE to ensure that Texas practitioners can earn their required 15.00/3.00 MCLE hours for the year.

UT Law CLE's 2023 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 balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system, including: A review of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court from the past year. Gain insight into practical suppression issues on appeal and how to protect your record for appellate practice. Hear practical advice from judges during two judicial panels; the Court of Appeals Judicial Panel and the Court of Criminal Appeals Judicial Panel. Explore standards of review, writing findings of fact, statutory interpretation, and more.  Join your colleagues and conference faculty at the Wednesday Evening Opening Reception co-sponsored by the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar of Texas and the ​Appellate Section of the State Bar of Texas.   Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional hours of MCLE to ensure that Texas practitioners can earn their required 15.00/3.00 MCLE hours for the year.

UT Law CLE's 2022 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 balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system, including: A review of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court from the past year. Advanced tips on brief writing and appellate practice. Insight from directly judges from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and different Courts of Appeals in the state. Practical tips for writ practice, writing findings of fact, statutory analysis, and more.  Speedy trial issues related to the pandemic. ** NEW THIS YEAR! Join your colleagues and conference faculty at the Wednesday Evening Opening Reception.   Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional hours of MCLE to ensure that Texas practitioners can earn their required 15.00/3.00 MCLE hours for the year.

UT Law CLE's 2021 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals is coming to you virtually again this year! This essential event continues to feature members of the Court of Criminal Appeals and judges from the intermediate courts around Texas joining prosecutors and defense attorneys for balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system. This year’s conference includes: In-depth reviews of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court from the past year. Tips for writ practice, including best practices for litigating an 11.07 from both the prosecution and defense perspectives. Guidance for effective and persuasive appellate advocacy, from the prosecution, defense, and judicial perspectives. Practical tips to advance your brief writing, including structure, issue spotting, and anticipating what appellate judges want to see. Information on a range of key concerns, including issues in PDRs, findings of fact, statutory analysis, preservation of error, and more. An exploration of the ethical dimensions of ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct claims. The popular Court of Appeals Judicial Panel, as well as Ethics for Criminal Lawyers. Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional 2.25 hours of MCLE (including 1.00 hours of ethics) to ensure practitioners can earn their required 15.00/3.00 MCLE hours for the year.

UT Law CLE's 2020 Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals will be live online on May 6, 2020! Due to the suspension of all in-person events this spring, we have modified this year’s agenda to bring you a one-day, live virtual conference online, with presentations featuring members of the Court of Criminal Appeals and judges from the intermediate courts around Texas, plus prosecutors and defense attorneys, for balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system. This year’s virtual conference includes: In-depth review of significant decisions from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals from the past year. Real world tips, suggestions and insights for litigating writ claims at every step in the process, from preliminary investigation, to trial court, to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, with Practical Tips from Writ Litigators. Insight into the digital revolution with Appellate Practice in the Digital Age. Legal writing tips and tricks with How to Write Plainly, with Professor Wayne Schiess. Registrants can fulfill their entire annual MCLE requirement in Texas and earn up to 15.00 hrs /3.00 hrs ethics for the year. Earn up to 7.50 hours of MCLE credit (including 0.50 hours of ethics) during the live virtual conference on May 6th. Plus, receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional 7.50 hours of MCLE (including 2.50 hours of ethics) to complete your annual requirement on your time.

UT Law CLE's 2019 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 balanced discussions and insights into current issues facing the criminal justice system. 2019 highlights include: In-depth reviews of significant decisions from both the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court from the past year. Guidance on working with conviction integrity units, filing and responding to ineffective assistance of counsel claims, and preparing for oral argument. Practical advice on Effective and Persuasive Briefing from both sides of the bar, along with tips from UT Law’s Professor Wayne Schiess for achieving concision in all your drafting. A deep dive into the Michael Morton Act, including the nuts and bolts of changing discovery obligations and their intersection with obligations under Brady and the Disciplinary Rules. The opportunity to earn 12.75 hours of MCLE credit (including 1.50 hours of ethics) while networking with your fellow practitioners and members of the judiciary. Following the conference, attendees will receive a bonus eSupplement containing an additional 2.25 hours of MCLE (including 1.50 hours of ethics) to ensure practitioners can earn their required 15.00/3.00 MCLE hours for the year.

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's biennial 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 system. 2017 program highlights include: Significant decisions and updates from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court in the last year Emerging Issues in PDRs with Stacey Soule, Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney, and Gary Hart, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals An exploration of legal issues in actual innocence claims, with particular focus on false evidence leading to wrongful convictions and wrongful convictions based on invalid scientific testimony Techniques on writing effective briefs in Legal Writing: Clearly Using Intensifiers is Literally a Crime Investigating, developing, and prosecuting ineffective assistance of counsel claims in post-conviction litigation How to raise and defend disclosure issues in a post-Michael Morton Act world with Patricia Cummings, The Law Offices of Patricia Cummings, and Bill Wirskye, Collin County District Attorney's Office An examination of the ethical considerations facing attorneys in post-conviction representation with Hon. Michael Keasler, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

UT Law's biennial 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 system. 2015 program highlights include: Significant decisions and updates from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court in the last year An overview of the law and procedures regarding Texas state writs from the perspective of the practitioner and the court Techniques on writing effective briefs due to the change in reading habits, workload and legal sophistication of the appellate judicial audience in the 21st century An appellate specialist with experience from both sides of the bench provides effective tips for oral argument Court of Appeals Judicial Panel Experts provide appellate tips from both sides of the criminal bar with tips on how to make briefs interesting and easier to understand without offending the opposing side Earn up to 2.50 hours of ethics including lessons learned from the Michael Morton case, scientific evidence and the popular Reel Legal Ethics, featuring ethical legal dilemmas depicted in various movie scenes