Criminal Law and Policy News and Events for the University of Arizona Community

John Allen, PhD - (In)Validity of the Polygraph Test

The Program in Criminal Law & Policy (PCLP) is excited to invite you to its upcoming event.

 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2020, 12:00-1:15pm 

Title: (In)Validity of the Polygraph Test

Description: Dr. Allen is a Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Science, and Neuroscience in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona. He will discuss his research regarding the unreliability of the polygraph test and why law enforcement agencies and courts should refrain from using it. Prior to his talk, feel free to read this short article summarizing his position: bit.ly/2TDAt24

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/92480368594

Meeting ID: 924 8036 8594

Password: PCLP

Soll Lecture, October 21

The Program in Criminal Law and Policy invites you to the 14th Annual Darrow K. Soll Memorial Criminal Law & Justice Lecture on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 12:00pm (register here). 

Arizona Law alumna Laura Conover ('05) will deliver the lecture. Ms. Conover is the presumptive Pima County Attorney elect, having won the Democratic primary in August and is running unopposed on November 3rd. Please note that this is a Q&A event, so it is not eligible for mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

About the Speaker 

When the seat for Pima County Attorney opened for the first time in 24 years, Ms. Conover's work in criminal justice reform, her formative years of study at the James E. Rogers College of Law, her continued connection to the college, and her desire to help teach the next generation of prosecutors combined together for a successful run for office.

Ms. Conover joins a growing list of reform-minded prosecutors who have been elected to usher in a new era of health and safety by reframing prosecutorial priorities. She will discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading the prosecutor's office and her vision for criminal justice reform in Pima County. 

About the Soll Lecture

The Soll Lecture enhances the college's Program in Criminal Law and Policy (PCLP), headed by Dean Jason Kreag. PCLP offers students experience in a number of clinics, a JD certificate, and a Master's level concentration, as well as a weekly PCLP lunchtime lecture series throughout the year.

Friends and colleagues of the late Darrow K. Soll ('92) established this lecture as a memorial to his life's work by creating an endowment at the James E. Rogers College of Law, through the efforts of Jennifer Simmon Woods ('99) and other generous donors.

There is no cost to attend this event, and it is open to the public.

We look forward to seeing you there. 

Christina Poletti, christinapoletti@email.arizona.edu 

Shawn Whirl and Lauren Myerscough-Mueller. The Exoneration Project

Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2020 

Time: 12-1:15pm

Zoom link: 
https://arizona.zoom.us/j/92480368594 

Meeting ID: 924 8036 8594

Password: PCLP

Event co-hosted by the Program in Criminal Law & Policy (PCLP) and the University of Arizona Innocence Project (UAIP)

The Program in Criminal Law & Policy (PCLP) invites you to its upcoming lunchtime event on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. We thank all of you who have kept our weekly meetings well-attended and who ask thoughtful questions each week. Without you, these events would not be possible. 

PCLP and UAIP are excited to host Shawn Whirl and Lauren Myerscough-Mueller, who are joining us virtually from Chicago, Illinois. 

Shawn Whirl was exonerated in 2015 after serving 25 years in prison due to a tortured false confession. In 1990, Shawn was interrogated about a murder over several hours while detectives slapped him, threatened him and his girlfriend, and repeatedly scraped a metal key over a leg injury to force a false confession. Shawn, then faced with the death penalty, was pressured to plead guilty to a crime he did not commit. In the years that followed, courts began to recognize a pattern and practice of abuse and systemic misconduct by Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge and his subordinates, including the detective who tortured Shawn. It was found that during former Commander Burge's tenure, dozens of men were physically tortured into falsely confessing. Shawn presented evidence of this pattern and practice of abuse and, with the help of his advocates at the Exoneration Project, he was finally freed.

Lauren Myerscough-Mueller is a staff attorney with the Exoneration Project (EP) where she represents wrongfully convicted clients with credible claims of innocence. Lauren is also a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School's Exoneration Project Clinic. Prior to joining the EP, Lauren represented innocent people at the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) for over three years. While at the IIP, Lauren taught both undergraduate and law school classes on wrongful convictions. Lauren began working in the innocence movement following her practice as criminal defense attorney in the Chicago area, both as a public defender and a private attorney. She graduated from the Northwestern University School of Law, where she participated in several clinics and interned for the Cook County Public Defender Homicide Task Force for two years.

Zoom Link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/92480368594

Password: PCLP

 

**CLE EVENTS**

The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1.0 hour toward your annual CLE requirement for the State Bar of Arizona. Request a CLE certificate from Christina Poletti (christinapoletti@email.arizona.edu) at the event; it will be emailed to you once attendance is confirmed.