Experience the inner workings of a federal jury trial by using as a guide an actual Civil Rights lawsuit against a police officer who fatally shot an individual. Over 8 weeks participants will follow the trajectory of a federal jury trial from jury selection through verdict. The class will explore evidence including video, audio and photographic images. Discussion topics will include: Why take such an emotionally charged case to trial; how does the press cover such cases; how to prepare an opening and summation. Participants may formulate and deliver their own openings/summations, if they want to give it a try. This course is open to all, no law degree encouraged! Please note that the course uses some graphic material such as crime scene photos.
About the instructor: Patricia Miller served as the Chief of the Special Federal Litigation Division of the New York City Law Department for 10 years. Special Fed is responsible for the defense of NYC law enforcement personnel in Federal Civil Rights actions in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Ms. Miller was named to Top Women in Law 2016 by the New York Law Journal, is a 2017 recipient of the New York State Bar Association Shira Scheindlin Award for Excellence in the Courtroom, has been awarded the 2020 International Municipal Lawyers Association Charles S. Rhyne Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law Award, and is the 2022 recipient of The Corporation Counsel's Award for Distinguished Legal Service.