Our one-day virtual Fall Training seminar topics will include: use of force conflicts and ethical concerns; professionalism for prosecutors; and a half day dedicated to domestic violence topics including voir dire, initial response, victim contact, evidence collection, case investigation, report writing, trial testimony, and battered women’s syndrome. We hope you will join us!

Downloadable agenda and registration forms are available here

9:00 - 10:30 Ethics, Conflicts of Interest for Prosecutors. Should Prosecutors Seek an Independent Review of Use of Force Cases?
As prosecutors we are deeply troubled about the tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota and the toll it has taken on public trust in our justice system. Simply stated, the public does not trust the justice system to police the police. Many organizations are calling for a special prosecutor to independently review use of deadly force cases involving law enforcement. This independent prosecutor can be the state attorney general, a prosecutor from another jurisdiction or a local attorney. In this presentation we will review conflict of interest law regarding prosecutors and when a prosecutor has a conflict of interest and his legal or ethical obligation to obtain an independent prosecutor.
Philip Bogdanoff
Retired Career Prosecutor

10:30 - 10:45 Break

10:45 - 11:45 Professionalism for Ohio Prosecutors
This presentation will cover court decisions dealing with professionalism issues including disclosure and discovery. Also discussed will be the Lawyer’s Creed and Judicial Creed.
Judge Sean C. Gallagher
Eighth District Court of Appeals for the State of Ohio

11:45 - 12:45 Lunch

12:45 - 1:45 Prosecution of Domestic Violence
This session will address evidence needed to effectively prosecute domestic violence cases. Prosecutors will learn how to prove essential elements of domestic violence using the evidence-based approach. Prosecutors will learn how to use experts in battered women’s syndrome to educate the jury on counterintuitive victim behavior.
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office and
Angela Poth Wypasek, First Assistant
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office

1:45 - 2:00 Break

2:00 - 3:00 How to Interview and Prepare Domestic Violence Victims
Prosecutors will learn why location of the victim interview is important and how to use the trauma informed approach to the interview. The victim advocate can assist prosecutors in the interview and why it is important to utilize them.
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office and
Angela Poth Wypasek, First Assistant
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office

3:00 - 4:00 Protection Order Enforcement
Prosecutors will learn how to effectively prosecute violations of both temporary and civil protection orders and why this is important.
Angela Alexander, Assistant Prosecutor
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office and
Angela Poth Wypasek, First Assistant
Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office

4:00 - 5:00 Domestic Violence Case Law Update
Prosecutors will be provided with a case law update on topics relevant to domestic violence prosecution. Specifically, forfeiture by wrongdoing, excited utterance, present sense impression and hostile witness testimony.
Heaven DiMartino, Assistant Prosecutor,
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office

We have recieved approval of 6.5 hours which includes 2.5 professional conduct hours of CLE from the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education.

The Attorney participating in this program is limited to (24) hours credit for Live Interactive Webinars (Gov. Bar R. X, Sec. 5 (E)(2)), unless they fall under the change implemented May 2020: The Supreme Court of Ohio has waived the self-study caps for judges, magistrates, and attorneys to complete the CLE requirements for the 2019-2020 compliance period ending Dec. 31, 2020. Judges, magistrates, and attorneys with the last names beginning with M-Z may complete all CLE requirements through approved self-study courses, including live interactive webinars, for the compliance period ending Dec. 31, 2020.