Law, Literature & Film: Uses and Abuses
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday, December 3, 2004
University of Washington School of Law
William H. Gates Hall
Seattle, Washington
4.0 CLE Credits (includes 1.75 Ethics CLE Credits)
Cost: $100 (*special December discount available)
- About the Program
- Program Chair
- Program Schedule
- Discounts and Refunds
- Accommodations for Disabilities
Literature, and more recently, television and film, has both reflected and critiqued lawyers and the legal system. From Sophocles to Dickens to Lee to Grisham, stories about the law have fascinated the public and provided an outsider's view of the efficacy of our justice system. More recently, "docudramas," "true crime" books, and television and newspaper reporting of major trials have brought the public an even closer and more immediate (if somewhat warped) view of the challenges, accomplishments and problems in the legal profession.
This program provides a glimpse of several issues raised by the intersection of popular culture and the law.
Program Schedule
| 1:00-1:10 p.m. | Introduction and Overview
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| 1:10-2:00 p.m. | Just Rhetoric? -- Persuasion, Manipulation and Ethics in Legal Writing Today
Professor O'Neill will present some vivid examples of contemporary prose on relatively hot topics from a variety of genres (memo, brief, judicial opinion and popular journalism). Then she will involve the attendees in a discussion of what rhetorical techniques are being used and whether they think those are effective, skilled or even artful, or whether they are inept, ineffective, overly manipulative, or downright misleading. |
| 2:00-3:00 p.m. | The Ethics and Use of Psychological Profiling in Violent Crime Prosecutions: CSI in the Real World
Television shows like "CSI," "Medical Investigations," and "The Profiler" have heightened public understanding of the value of forensic investigation and profiling. But are such shows at all realistic? Mr. Mathers will discuss the art of psychological profiling in violent crimes and how it can help the investigator in determining race, sex, age, intelligence level, occupation and sexual preference. When properly used, profiling can eliminate or affirm a person as a suspect based on any of the above. Richard L. Mathers retired in October of 1999 following 36 years of service with the F.B.I. and formed Rick Mathers & Associates where he continues to offer in-service training in death and violent crime investigation to the law enforcement community. During his FBI service, he provided instruction to law enforcement agencies domestically, and across several continents, in the fields of death investigation, investigative psychology, and officer survival. He has consulted on criminal personality profiling nationally, and internationally. |
| 3:00-3:15 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15-5:15 p.m. | Can Criminal Defendants In "Big" Cases Get A Fair Trial In The Glare of Media Coverage?
Moderator: Robert Aronson Professor, University of Washington School of Law This wide-ranging panel discussion will address the modern phenomenon of extensive, frenetic and all-encompassing coverage and commentary on major trials involving horrific crimes and famous politicians, actors, and rock stars. Print and televised news coverage, along with seemingly instantaneously produce books, movies and made-for-television "docudramas" compete to make the coverage and analysis more interesting, exciting and titillating. Are such portrayals fair? Do they assure that the conduct of all "players" will be carefully observed and analyzed, or do they result in the inability to try such cases fairly in the courts? The panelists will address these and other relevant concerns, with participation from the attendees anticipated. |
- 4.0 CLE Credits (includes 1.75 Ethics CLE Credits).
For more information regarding CLE credits in other states, contact UW CLE at 206-543-0059.
Refunds are available up to five days prior to the program. In lieu of a refund, we encourage participants to send a substitute. Please notify the UW CLE of any requests for refunds or substitutions. All cancellations are subject to a $30 handling charge.
- To request accommodations for the disabled, please contactthe office of the Disability Services Office at least ten daysin advance at:(206) 543-6450 (voice); (206) 543-6452(TDD); (206) 685-7264 (FAX), or dso@u.washington.edu(E-Mail).
