“The Power of Spoken Words” offers a transformative, unorthodox approach to healing and growth through the fusion of storytelling and lyrical performance. This presentation dives into advocacy, trauma-informed care, and the profound impact of words.  Combining captivating narratives, drama, and poetry, Rashan delves into critical themes, including: social media depression; mental health; self-discovery; advocacy; substance abuse; and male victimization. This holistic approach enables attorney and advocate audiences to engage deeply with the topics and discover pathways to resilience and advocacy. Trigger Warning: This talk may evoke strong emotions and trigger traumatic memories for some participants.

presented by

Rashan Legard, CEO & Founder, Rashan Legard Speaks LLC

This panel will first address issues of systemic inequities experienced by crime victims from underserved communities (citizens and noncitizens alike) utilizing as case studies the experiences of survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence and human trafficking.  The panel will discuss how such inequities manifest in practice for crime victims from underserved communities, such as the under identification of victims and the unjust criminalization of victims.  This panel will end with providing legal tools practitioners from various disciplines can utilize to ensure the legal rights of ALL crime victims are protected and ALL have equal access to justice.

presented by

Nagwa Ibrahim, Legal Director, Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, and Michelle Carey, Directing Attorney, Survivor Justice Center

The use of AI to modify or create images and audio that are virtually indistinguishable from reality has exponentially increased the harm to victims. Applications and software are now widely available to the everyday user. These tools are supported by online communities in which users discuss and create nonconsensual manipulated intimate material which causes lasting harm. This presentation will focus on the frameworks that currently exist in both state and federal laws regarding this conduct and deficits in those laws. We will discuss current legislative proposals to address the issue, as well as recommendations for amending or creating laws to address this type of abuse. We will review talking points to advocate for victim protections in pending legislation. The presentation will examine different approaches for child and adult victims in both criminal and civil contexts. We will discuss available remedies for victims of this abuse, including integrating current legal processes, resources for victims to remove abusive content, and individual legal actions victims can take to hold abusers accountable and seek restitution.

presented by

Sandi Johnson, Senior Legislative Policy Counsel, RAINN

In tumultuous times, it can be easy to grow fearful or skeptical about the uphill battle of fighting for crime victims against power perpetrators and enabling institutions. In this address, victims’ attorney Peter Janci will draw from examples from his nearly 20 years of practice to provide a reminder and a roadmap for how we can achieve positive change for victims over time, incrementally, and despite difficult circumstances and setbacks. Part case study and reflection, and part battle plan for the emerging landscape, Janci seeks to provide both practical suggestions and a message of hope for those who continue the struggle for justice for crime victims.

presented by

Peter Janci, Partner at Crew Janci LLP

During this plenary you will hear from Judge Sinlapasai, who will discuss what a trauma informed courtroom is and how practitioners and advocates can help with ensuring that the courtroom feels like a safe space. She will share how important it is that there are no surprises during trial or court hearings and what steps a practitioner can take to ensure this. We will go in depth about communication with the courts, opposing counsel, and planning ahead. These topics will include the need for language services, medical standby, medical accommodation, concerns over security, and other important accommodation. A question will be posed to the audience – “If you are not sharing with the court, how will the court staff and Judge know to be prepared for it?” Most importantly Judge Sinlapasai will discuss why do the rights of all litigants, including rights to be heard, matter to making the best decisions from the bench and how your filings, presentation, and conduct helps ensure the hearings and trials are fair for everyone.

presented by

Chanpone Sinlapasai, Judge, Multnomah County Circuit Court

This session will discuss the three types of cross-examination - Use, Defuse, and Abuse - and their application to expert witnesses.  The presenter will use examples from history, including the Patty Hearst Trial and Scopes Monkey Trial.

presented by

Sean Riddell, Sean J. Riddell PC

In 2014 Congress codified the Special Victims’ Counsel programs mandating that certain victims of certain offenses would be detailed an attorney to represent those victims throughout the pendency of military justice proceedings.  Free attorneys for victims – a groundbreaking idea.  These counsel transformed military justice and placed victims in the ring of the trial.  However, provision of counsel to victims has led to unintended realities.  This presentation will discuss those unintended realities, covering judicial orders of coercion to waive rights, judicial orders to victims counsel to enforce orders, and orders to victims counsel to shepherd evidence.  Providing victims detailed counsel seemed like a Panacea, but was it?

This session will provide an overview of defamation law and provide examples of common retaliatory tactics taken in recent years by abusers against survivors who speak out about gender-based violence and harassment at work and at school.  Experts will also discuss the challenges that survivors and their attorneys must navigate when they tell the survivor’s story publicly, whether it is in a lawsuit, in the press, in social media, or simply when the survivor is speaking with friends or colleagues.

presented by

Liz Chacko and Michael Gadinis

Nationally recognized Title IX attorney Laura L. Dunn and campus safety expert S. Daniel Carter will provide a training for attorneys and advocates serving as advisors during school-based Title IX proceedings addressing sex-based harassment and sexual misconduct while highlighting key differences between the 2020 and the 2024 Title IX regulations.

presented by

S. Daniel Carter & Laura L. Dunn, J.D.

Attorneys can make a difference for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking (DVSAS) in civilian and military criminal courts but are often uncertain of how to navigate military justice and military culture.  This training (2 hrs. 40 mins.), which is designed for civilian attorneys, focuses on the foundations of legal representation for this victim community, including: the role of civilian victims’ counsel in military criminal justice systems; key victims’ rights afforded to military-connected survivors; what civilian attorneys need to know about military justice systems, culture, and practice; how attorneys interested in this work can get started; and what resources and support NCVLI can offer attorneys representing military-connected victims.

presented by

Meg Garvin (NCVLI), Ryan Guilds (Arnold & Porter), Ruth Cresenzo, and Susie Cowen (NCVLI)