On November 11, 2011, the Project, in partnership with the University of Minnesota School of Law Journal of Law and Inequality, hosted a symposium entitled “Perspectives on the Death Penalty: Comparative Solutions from the Classroom to the Courtroom.” The day-long symposium brought together a number of experts including academics, defenders, judges, and volunteer attorneys.
A series of panels and presentations followed the introduction by Project Director Robin Maher and a keynote address by Professor Jordan Steiker:
Race and the Death Penalty – Jin Hee Lee, Assistant Counsel of the Criminal Justice Program, NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund
Jury Instructions for the Finding of Mitigation: Mills v. Maryland and Smith v. Spisak – Judith L. Ritter, Professor of Law and Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic, Widener Law School, Co-Counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
The Experience: Changes over Time in Death Penalty Sentencing – Andrea D. Lyon, Professor of Law and Director, Center for Justice in Capital Cases, DePaul University College of Law
Civil Rights Trials for Exonerees – Charles J. Lloyd, Livgard & Lloyd, PLLP, Peter Thompson, Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota Law School, retired Criminal Defense Lawyer (Moderator)
“How Volunteer Law Firm Lawyers Ensure Justice for Death Row Inmates”
• Steve J. Wells, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
• Steve Z. Kaplan, Fredrikson & Byron, PA
• The Honorable Jeffrey J. Keyes, U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
• Robin M. Maher, Moderator
“Eyewitness Identification Evidence and Reform” – Nancy K. Steblay, Professor of Psychology, Augsburg College
“Reform & Abolition in Illinois” – Robert Warden, Professor, Executive Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions, Northwestern University Law School
Over 60 law students, academics, and practitioners attended the day-long event. More information, including video from the event, is available on the University of Minnesota’s web page at http://www.law.umn.edu/lawineq/symposiummain/november-2011.html.