NLG CHICAGO

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Winning Case Analysis & Dynamic Witness Examination – Practice and Ethics

 

 

 

Join us for a fantastic NPAP CLE seminar with Criminal Defense Attorney James McComas. Rick Friedman calls Jim McComas “the best criminal defense lawyer I’ve ever known, one of the best trial lawyers I’ve ever known, brilliant, creative, innovative and fearless.” 

 

 

 

Jim will be tailoring his approach to police misconduct cases; he will be assisted by NPAP President Michael Haddad. 

 

 

 

This seminar was approved by the Illinois MCLE Board for 10.5 general credit hours.  

 

An application for 2 ethics credits is pending.

 

Register here: http://nlg-npap.org/civicrm/event/info?id=12&reset=1

 

 

 

You will learn:

 

 

 

— To take your Cross-Exam method out of the last century, and learn how to make this weapon into an even more effective, powerful tool.

 

 

 

— How to transform your Cross-Exams into consistently outcome determining events, without taking any excessive risks.

This remarkable 1 1/2 day CLE includes:

 

  • A complete presentation of Case Analysis & Dynamic Cross Exam (Friday)
  • Demonstrations of Dynamic Cross Exam (Friday)
  • Group discussion by all participants and presenters, and preparation of Dynamic Cross & Direct Exams in a specific case (Saturday morning)
  • Multiple cross examinations of police officers and a defense police practices expert

The result?  You will be ready and able to examine witnesses in a new, hugely effective way.  You will be on the cutting edge of advocacy and your clients will benefit right away as you join the vanguard of Dynamic Lawyers for the People.

 
This is Jim’s second seminar with NPAP.  Rick Friedman and Jim McComas were part of our last highly praised NPAP seminar held on February 15 in New Orleans.

WHEN:  May 17th, 8:45 AM through May 18th, 12:00 PM

LOCATION:  Inn of Chicago / 162 East Ohio Street / Chicago, IL 60611
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Hotel Information: NPAP has set aside a limited number of rooms for a discounted rate of $169 (single & double occupancy) at the Inn of Chicago, where the seminar will be held. Please call (212) 630 9939 or email director.npap@nlg.org  Executive Director Brigitt Keller to make a reservation for a room at the Inn of Chicago. Please make your reservation as soon as possible.

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May 11th – NLG Puerto Rican Community Walking Tour

We are writing to invite you to join us for a one hour guided walking tour of the Puerto Rican community in Chicago on Saturday, May 11th.  We will meet at noon at Nellies, 2458 W. Division.

During the tour you will see and hear about the incredible work done by the Puerto Rican community to build a vibrant, sustaining community that meets the needs of the Puerto Rican community. We will see the alternative high school, child care center, the first housing for gay, lesbian, transgendered youth, and the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. We will also learn about the history of the community and the Puerto Rican people in Chicago.
If you would like to go on the tour or have questions, please contact us at chicago[@]nlg.org
 Regards,

NLG Chicago

 

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Next Gen Happy Hour at Haymarket!

Haymarket Pub & Brewery

Come out and celebrate a belated May Day with Next Gen, the NLG Labor and Employment subcommittee and Wobblies! 

When: Friday, May 3, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Haymarket Pub and Brewery, 737 W Randolph

Specials: Haymarket offers 32 tap handles featuring more than 10 house brewed varieties, including classic Belgian and American beer styles.

The Next Gen Happy Hour:  Every month, the Next Gen Committee of the National Lawyers Guild of Chicago throws a happy hour to bring together young, progressive, and radical attorneys, law students, and legal workers to drink, socialize, organize, and relax. Join us!

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CLE on 5/13: From Puerto Rico to Palestine: Colonial Domination and Political Prisoners

NLG Chicago’s The United People of Color Caucus and the Palestine Solidarity Committee present

From Puerto Rico to Palestine: Colonial Domination and Political Prisoners
Monday, May 13th, 4-6pm
John Marshall Law School, 304 S. State St, Room 420

Puerto Ricans and Palestinians have experienced decades of colonization by foreign powers. Their movements for independence have been suppressed through a variety of means, the imprisonment of political activists being a primary one.  This CLE will explore the commonalities in the Puerto Rican and Palestinian experiences and the intersections between colonization and political repression. Some of the questions explored will include: What is the legal status of the colonization and occupation of these lands?  What are the respective independence movements trying to achieve? What are the legal and other tools the colonial powers use to maintain their authority over colonized populations without granting them the same rights and privileges as their own citizens?  How do the colonial powers, the US and Israel in this case, continue to evade legal and moral accountability for their treatment of their colonial subjects?  How have the colonial powers dealt with decades of resistance? How have independence movements in Puerto Rico and Palestine, as well as in the US, been repressed by the Israeli and US government? What is being done to address the situation of Puerto Rican and Palestinian political prisoners?

Sahar Francis is the General Director of Ramallah-based Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, a Palestinian NGO providing legal and advocacy support to Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli and Palestinian prisons.

José E. López is the Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and has been a leading figure in the struggle for Puerto Rican human rights for the past 30 years.

Jan Susler is an attorney with the People’s Law Office, she has worked with the Puerto Rican Independence Movement challenging U.S. foreign and domestic policies for over 30 years. She has represented Puerto Rican political prisoners and has served as lead counsel in the efforts culminating in the 1999 presidential commutation of their sentences. She continues to represent those who remain imprisoned.

 

REGISTRATION:
Please register online at http://tinyurl.com/cleprtopalestine  

Free for those who do not want CLE credits.
2 CLE Credits available – $20. Pay online http://tinyurl.com/paypalcleprtopalestine or pay at the door.

*Please see NLG Chicago’s financial hardship policy for more information: http://tinyurl.com/NLG-hardship-policy  No one will be turned away.

If you do not register, please come prepared to show ID in order to enter the building.

 

For more information: chicagonlgtupocc@gmail.com

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NLG Provides Wrap-up of Police Reaction to NATO Demonstrations

PRESS RELEASE
Chicago Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2012

National Lawyers Guild Provides Wrap-up of Police Actions During Week-long NATO Demonstrations
Police violence, serious injuries, high-level charges & exceptionally high bonds symbolize city’s reaction to protests

Chicago, IL — The Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) has made an initial assessment of police actions on the streets during the week of NATO demonstrations, which was dominated by police harassment and violence, serious injuries, high-level charges, and exceptionally high bonds. At this time, the NLG estimates that 117 people were arrested, but fewer than 100 were ultimately charged. Of those charged, the vast majority were ordinance violations and misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, failure to disperse, trespassing, and resisting arrest. Sixteen people were charged with felonies, including 5 protesters accused of terrorism-related crimes.

The NLG was disturbed to receive reports of more than 70 instances of police brutality, most of which occurred at the end of Sunday’s antiwar march at Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road. Most of the injuries were from baton blows to the body and many resulted in serious head injuries. More than two-dozen protesters were taken to Northwestern and Mercy Hospitals and treated for broken bones, knocked out teeth, concussions, and several open wounds requiring stitches or staples.

“Although police allowed some unpermitted marches to take place without incident, there were massive shows of force by police throughout the week of NATO demonstrations and indiscriminate violence perpetrated against many protesters,” said NLG Chicago spokesperson Kris Hermes. “Contrary to rhetoric from Mayor Emanuel and Police Superintendent McCarthy, the city was anything but tolerant to political dissent.” Several activists’ homes and organizing spaces, including the Wellington Avenue Church where activists converged, were targeted and visited by police. Numerous instances of unconstitutional stops and searches were also reported to the NLG throughout the week.

The first felony case to go to a preliminary hearing was dismissed by a Cook County Judge on Tuesday. Danny Johnson was arrested on May 15th at an immigration rally, charged with felony aggravated assault on a police officer, and held in jail for a week on $10,000 bond. “The dismissal of charges against Danny Johnson certainly raises questions about the veracity of claims against many other NATO protesters,” continued Hermes.

Eleven people are still in custody, including the 5 protesters facing terrorism-related charges. Most of the felony arrestees will have court dates this week and next. The so-called NATO 5 will have hearings on June 12th and 13th at 11:30am in Branch 98 at 26th and California. The NLG staffed a 24-hour legal office during the NATO demonstrations, dispatched Legal Observers to document police misconduct, and is committed to providing legal representation for anyone arrested and facing charges.

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Contact

637 S. Dearborn St., 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605

(773) 492-1405
chicago[@]nlg.org