SAVE THE DATE: May 28-31, 2026
Atlanta, GA
The Twenty-Third National Seminar on the Development and Integration of Mitigating Evidence in Capital Cases
Program Description
This seminar has been held annually since the Supreme Court decision in Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S. 510 (2003), which recognized the need for thorough mitigation investigation and acknowledged the importance of the non-lawyer who had compiled the mitigation in the successful post-conviction presentation. Twenty-three years after Wiggins, this year's seminar will focus on developmental disabilities, including Intellectual Disability, FASD, and Autism. The sessions that explore this area will cover a range of topics practitioners routinely confront when investigating this evidence and presenting it as the basis for an Atkins claim, a guilt phase defense, and/or as mitigation. The conference will also cover psychosis and neuroimaging as well as advancements in understanding social determinants of mental health. In addition, the program offers presentations that focus on the practical aspects of investigating and developing mitigation, including establishing rapport with witnesses, drafting declarations, integrating DIVO into the work, abiding by ethical guidelines, and debunking harmful psychiatric labels. As always, the faculty will include university-based researchers as well as litigators, mitigation specialists, and mental health experts. Breakout sessions will include a beginners' track on mitigation basics as well as advanced workshops on specialized problems.
REGISTRATION WILL OPEN MID MARCH!