Source: http://www.imla.org/events/seminars/1852-2018-mid-year-seminar
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 01:13:38+00:00

Document:
This program is designed to help local government lawyers maximize their chances of success before the Supreme Court by providing practical tips and knowledge from some of the most prominent Supreme Court practitioners in the country. Participants in the program will learn how to frame the question presented and draft the petition for certiorari in a way to capture the Justices' attention and increase their chances of having the Court accept the case. Where local governments are on the receiving end of a petition for certiorari, participants will learn how to craft a response and under what circumstances a local government should consider waiving their response. The program will conclude with a discussion on oral argument practice tips from two Supreme Court practitioners who combine for over 130 oral arguments before the Supreme Court. A networking lunch is included. Separate registration is required. Space is very LIMITED.
Ending the relapse cycle can help residents of sober homes and the communities in which they are located. This discussion will take a look at sober homes and what can be done to address unscrupulous operators of sober homes at the federal, state and local level.
Speech that is popular to some is very unpopular to others. Ideological divisiveness continues to be an issue impacting municipal operations. This session will cover the origins of the Heckler's Veto through current caselaw and how this doctrine impacts the ability of a municipality to conduct effective crowd control in various forums and facilities. Examples from current events will be discussed.
This first part of this presentation will provide a discussion of recent Supreme Court qualified immunity presentations and underscore how local government lawyers can utilize these cases in their practice. The second half of this presentation will provide an overview of practice pointers on qualified immunity issues in the circuit courts of appeals.
The discussion includes the nature and scope of any constitution based wrongful death claim; the extent to which Heck v. Humphrey applies to a plaintiff no longer custody and its application to guilty pleas where the factual basis of the claim is uncertain; what constitutes a de minimis award for purposes of awarding no attorney fee under Farrar v. Hobby; whether a First Amendment retaliation claim can be brought where an arrest is made with probable cause; whether a police officer who testifies in criminal court as a witness is speaking as part of his or her job under Garcetti and hence subject to discipline for the testimony…and many more.
This presentation will discuss the history of Consent Decrees and the future of Consent Decrees under the current administration. We will also discuss the experience of the Riverside Police Department surviving the Consent Decree process.
The Supreme Court seems determined on making up for its fairly mundane 2016 term by stacking its docket with what can only be termed “blockbusters.” Many of the Court’s biggest cases this term involve issues relevant to local governments, including political gerrymandering, whether the existence of probable cause defeats a First Amendment retaliatory-arrest claim, warrant requirements under the Fourth Amendment for cell phone location data, a case that may limit the impact of Reed v. Town of Gilbert, and the infamous “cake” case involving the intersection of gay marriage and religious expression. Hear from Supreme Court specialists on these cases and others that are relevant to local governments.
Speech that is popular to some is very unpopular to others. Ideological divisiveness continues to be an issue impacting municipal operations. This session will cover the origins of the Heckler’s Veto through current caselaw and how this doctrine impacts the ability of a municipality to conduct effective crowd control in various forums and facilities. Examples from current events will be discussed.
This session will explain the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Murr v. State of Wisconsin, 137 S.Ct. 1933 (2017), which provides guidance on the “parcel-as-a-whole” principle of regulatory takings law. In Murr, owners of adjacent lots challenged the constitutionality of a Wisconsin law that required merger of the lots because each lot did not meet minimum standards for residential development, and the lots were held in common ownership. The owners claimed that the merger clause was a taking of one of the lots without just compensation because that lot could no longer be independently developed. The Supreme Court held that no taking had occurred, and spelled out a multi-factor test for what constitutes the “relevant parcel” for regulatory takings analysis. This session will focus on the background law, the facts of Murr, and the implications of the decision for local regulation of land use and development rights.
A presentation providing a review of:  specific law enforcement procedures for the mentally ill that can help minimize municipal and officer liability; and  Federal and State law claims involving law enforcement interactions with the mentally ill, including Section 1983 claims of deliberate indifference and excessive force.
With a major federal infrastructure program looming on the horizon and lessons learned from the previous “stimulus” package still fresh in the rear view mirror, this program will walk participants through a successful Public Private Partnership framework for municipal procurement and contracting. The program will begin with the most up-to-date report on the proposed federal infrastructure program, its details, requirements and impacts on municipal infrastructure planning and development. Next, comparisons will be drawn between the new program and the challenges municipalities faced in implementing the American Resource and Recovery Act project funding in the last decade, with a discussion of “lessons learned” and “traps for the unwary” taking center stage in the discussion. Participants will then learn how to structure a successful P3 deal through actual municipal case studies in the area of public utilities and economic development. Finally, how municipal counsel can best support the role and function of a City or County’s CEO will be discussed first hand with a Mayor who has completed many P3 deals using both in-house and special counsel.
Steven Torres; Mayor Thomas Hoye, Jr.
The first presenter will discuss evidentiary issues in a Section 1983 case, including the admissibility of plaintiff’s arrest history and the exclusion of the plaintiff’s acquittal in a criminal case, both of which are important tools for defense attorneys in this area. The next presenter will focus on discovery in Section 1983 cases and in particular, interrogatories that are vital to a chance at securing summary judgment and deposition questions with an eye towards summary judgment. The third presenter will take you through the pros and cons of Motions to Dismiss v. Motions for Summary Judgment in these cases.
This seminar focuses on civil rights lawsuits arising out of alleged wrongful convictions, including (1) differences between an exoneration based on DNA or other evidence, on the one hand, and cases arising from convictions vacated on purely procedural grounds, on the other; (2) particular challenges in wrongful conviction cases such as tracking down old evidence (files, reports, physical evidence) and representing witnesses whose memories may have faded; (3) damage awards in specific cases from various circuits; and (4) litigation and settlement strategies.
Critically important election law cases will have been heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, just in time for the full Court – including Justice Neil Gorsuch, its long-awaited ninth Justice confirmed on April 7, 2017 – to hear and hopefully resolve. Issues include whether Voter ID violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (NC v. NC NAACP), whether the NC Congressional Redistricting Plan violates the First Amendment right to freedom of association (Common Cause v. Rucho), whether the Wisconsin redistricting plan violates the First and Fourteenth Amendment (Whitford v. Nichol), and whether removal of eligible voters from Ohio’s voter-registration rolls violated the NVRA and deprived eligible citizens of the right to vote (Ohio A. Philip Randolph Institute and NEOCH v. Husted). We will discuss how these and related cases already decided this term on racial gerrymandering (Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections decided 3-1-17) can impact local government elections and electoral processes at the municipal and county level.
The longstanding, widespread practice of beginning a legislative session with an invocation—a practice followed by lawmakers at every level of state and federal government—continues to generate litigation, including a pair of cases that the U.S. Supreme Court may take up next year. This session will focus on the current legal landscape and the practical issues faced by state and local governments across the country. The session will also explore the role legislative privilege and the separation of powers doctrine might play in a court’s adjudication of an action challenging legislative prayer.
The agenda will include introductions, approval of minutes, the IMLA Board Report and Executive Director Report. The remainder of the meeting will be devoted to a discussion on the ongoing opioid crisis and ensuing litigation by local governments. An update on the litigation and IMLA's working group will be provided and Mark Hayes will discuss his League's involvement in the opioid litigation. There will be time for an open discussion to hear from attendees on what their Leagues are doing to respond to their members on this issue.
Agenda: 1. A project proposal currently pending in the Republic of Georgia entitled “New Constitutionalism: Strategy of Horizontal Proliferation of Constitutional Values on the Whole System of Law,” in which members of the IMLA International Committee may be able to participate if the project is funded by the National Science Foundation in that country. While no IMLA funding is involved, it appears that this project, if funded through the Georgian NSF, would likely entail on our part as American attorneys a good deal of comparative research of continental and American systems of constitutional control and governance.
Section 1983 - Openings / SummationThe first presenter will provide a unique and powerful presentation on Opening Statements. He will discuss techniques and strategies designed to get a jury leaning in your client's’ favor by the close of the openings. The second presenter will bookend Opening Statements with a discussion on strategies for Summations; including effective use of the verdict sheet and jury instructions, and ways to persuade those jurors, who despite your stellar presentation during the trial, are just not on board yet.
Seminar - HR up in Smoke: The Intersection between Marijuana Legalization and Employment LawRecent state law changes legalizing medical and/or recreational marijuana have had a direct impact on local government employers. The panel will present an overview of the current landscape and provide guidance to help navigate the legal issues, particularly ADA, state anti-discrimination laws, and the myriad of testing and safety issues relating to police, fire, and CDL employees. The panel will also review the most prevalent landmines, red herrings, and best practices based on experience in states with authorization for both medical and recreational use.
High profile officer involved shooting deaths have dominated the public eye in recent years. This discussion involves two attorneys that have handled police use of force cases on both sides of the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Mo. There will be a discussion about what perhaps has changed, what perhaps has not changed, and how to leverage and address those issues.
The panel will discuss significant focal points to assist local counsel in bond issues regarding the issuance of opinions, the identification of potential problem areas, and the provision of legal advice to their jurisdictions to minimize potential enforcement and liability.
This perennial favorite will provide an overview of highlighted Supreme Court and Circuit Court cases from around the country that are relevant to local governments including everything from employment law cases to First Amendment and police misconduct cases.
An Era of Preemption – Implications for Public PolicyIn an era when cities are increasingly called on to lead in policy implementation, stakeholders and constituents are often unaware of the hindrance of preemption. Where are cities being held back and what can we do about it? This presentation will explore the answers to these questions.
Appellate Practice - Framing the Question Presented and Drafting the Petition for CertiorariThis presentation will provide an overview of petitioning the Supreme Court for certiorari. Presenters will discuss strategy on whether to petition and provide practical tips on drafting the petition for certiorari. They will also discuss the importance of petition stage amicus support and other practice pointers before the Court at this stage.
Appellate Practice - Crafting the Response (or Waiving it)This presentation will provide attendees with a discussion and overview regarding strategies for the Brief in Opposition (BIO) to a Petition for Certiorari. After explaining the considerations for whether you should file a BIO, the presenters will provide the nuts and bolts of a BIO, including how to handle the question presented, statement of the case, dealing with circuit conflicts, vehicle issues, and more. Examples of well drafted BIOs and BIOs that likely did not help the Respondent will be discussed.
Appellate Practice - Oral Argument Practice TipsThis presentation will cover oral argument practice tips before the Supreme Court. Sarah Harrington, a former assistant to the Solicitor General who argued more than 20 cases before the Supreme Court, will provide a discussion of how to prepare for an oral argument. Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General, has argued over 90 cases before the Supreme Court and he will discuss how to handle the argument itself. Learn from these two Supreme Court veterans during an hour that is sure to provide practical tips that you can bring back to your jurisdiction and help you succeed during your next oral argument.
Click here to register for the 2018 Mid-Year Seminar.
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SUPREME COURT APPELLATE PRACTICE PROGRAM- NEW!!
This program is designed to help local government lawyers maximize their chances of success before the Supreme Court by providing practical tips and knowledge from some of the most prominent Supreme Court practitioners in the country. Participants in the program will learn how to frame the question presented and draft the petition for certiorari in a way to capture the Justice’s attention and increase their chances of having the Court accept the case. Where local governments are on the receiving end of a petition for certiorari, participants will learn how to craft a response and under what circumstances a local government should consider waiving their response. The program will conclude with a discussion on oral argument practice tips from two Supreme Court practitioners who combine for over 130 oral arguments before the Supreme Court. A networking lunch is included.
Program Fee: $85. MUST be registered for the seminar to attend. Please fill out the 2018 Mid-Year Seminar formand check the Supreme Court Appellate Program box and include an additional $85 to your seminar registration. SPACE IS LIMITED.
This year's Chief Legal Officers Forum will be held in conjunction with the Mid-year Seminar and will include topical programming for chief legal officers representing jurisdictions with populations between 100,000-300,000. This is a half day program (maybe longer) that is part of the IMLA Seminar and designed for those city and county attorneys who lead and manage public law offices.
The State/Province Breakfast is an intimate round-table event that will allow participants to join their colleagues form their state and neighboring states/provinces for a networking breakfast. The State/Province Breakfast will take place on Saturday, April 21st at 7:45AM in the Omni-Empire Ballroom. There is no additional cost to attend this event, but you MUST register!
IMLA is delighted to offer you an opportunity to network with your colleagues and have direct access to premier vendors and attorneys who concentrate on various areas of municipal law at breakfast! The breakfast will be organized tables by “Topic” and you can enjoy your breakfast together with your colleagues. The WONK Breakfast is planned for Sunday, April 22nd, 8:00 am – in the Omni-Empire Ballroom. There is no additional cost to attend this event, but you MUST register!
Emerging Trends in Ordinance Codification and Supplementation: New technology is providing additional options for cities to codify, amend, supplement and access their codes. From in-house to self-service and all the way to full service, keeping your code up to date and accessible is key to connecting with your citizens.
Discuss a process for developing (or amending) municipal Codes of Ethics, typical contents for such codes, the role of staff and outside counsel, and legal concerns.
Zoning options: planned development, Euclidean zoning and form-based zoning.
During the Obama administration, the EPA and the environmental community moved to expand the reach of the Clean Water Act to include distant tributaries, wetlands and discharges through groundwater. These efforts are embodied in the 2015 WOTUS Rule, and pending litigation brought by an environmental group against the County of Maui. We will discuss the current status of these efforts including the recent Supreme Court decision on the WOTUS Rule and the 9th Circuit decision on Maui County.
A discussion of legal issues that arise routinely in section 1983 litigation, but have not been conclusively resolved by the Supreme Court, and may be ripe for review.
8. P3 Do’s and Don’ts: Making it Happen: Right!
I will host a round table discussion about what critical elements municipal counsel need to include in framing a successful Public Private Partnership [P3] contract between a municipality and private company. Most importantly, because P3 legal authority is so new to many municipal attorneys and the law is still emerging in many states, we will discuss some “traps for the unwary.” Participants are invited to bring along their P3 “success” or “horror” stories, and the host hopes to listen more than he talks, and do a little learning himself in the process!.
Join us to discuss best practices in procurement and resilient rebuilding to ensure compliance with Federal disaster relief funding streams. We'll share "war stories" and lessons learned to avoid when disaster strikes.
A number of academics have recently written articles attacking the reasons the Supreme Court has stated to justify qualified immunity; one has gone so far as to say qualified immunity is unlawful. Justice Thomas has cited to one of these articles; lower court judges have cited to other articles. What can practitioners do to counter these attacks on a legal doctrine for important to local governments?
This table will discuss, share war stories, and offer solutions for when an elected official goes off the rails. It does not take an indictment to make your life challenging. Small incidents like not understanding the appearance of impropriety or wanting to monitor employee email accounts, or personal financial difficulties can not only create conflict among your elected officials, but also legal conflicts in responding to an addressing these issues.
Open discussion of issues important to smaller/rural communities. What is important to mayors making interlocal/intergovernmental agreement decisions?
IMLA has secured a block of sleeping rooms and a special room rate at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, a first class facility, in Washington, D.C.Click hereto book your room.
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Can't travel to Washington, DC to make IMLA's Mid-Year Seminar from April 20 – April 23?
Well now you can participate, as IMLA is bringing the Seminar to you!
Here's how it works: IMLA's Mid-Year Seminar is from April 20-April 23, 2018. Throughout the conference, IMLA will be connecting selected work sessions to a phone line, and you can listen to the presentations as they are happening! You can purchase the sessions individually or you can purchase the sessions as a bundle.
Topics being broadcast range from the Opioid Epidemic to Election Law to Section 1983 Reducing Liability with Mental Illness and Section 1983 Frist Amendment: Unpopular Speech and the Heckler’s Veto.
How Much will these cost? You can purchase each work session separately, or you can purchase each day as a bundle.
- Friday, April 20, 2018 (4 sessions) - Member Price: $149 and Nonmember: $299.
- Saturday, April 21, 2018 (5 sessions) - Member Price: $199 and Nonmember: $399.
- Sunday, April 22, 2018 (3 sessions) - Member Price: $99 and Nonmember: $199.
- Monday, April 23, 2018 (4 sessions) - Member Price: $149 and Nonmember: $299.
…and it gets better! If you purchased the IMLA Kitchen Sink Webinar/Teleconference Package (which allows you access to all IMLA Teleconferences and Webinars), you will receive all the selected work sessions FREE OF CHARGE!

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