AZ Capital Case Litigation Initiative

The purpose of the Capital Case Litigation Initiative (CCLI) is to provide high-quality training and technical assistance on death penalty issues to prosecutors and defense counsel who litigate death penalty cases. This program focuses on ensuring quality representation in death penalty cases and trials. The goals of CCLI are to increase the number of capital litigation attorneys trained in death penalty cases, and to ensure that defense counsel and prosecutors have the most up-to-date and comprehensive information available to them on death penalty litigation.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission applied for the Fiscal Year 2009 CCLI award on behalf of the Arizona Capital Case Representation Project (Project) and the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys Advisory Council (APAAC). The proposed project is to train approximately 40 capital defense attorneys and up to 75 prosecuting attorneys. Trainings will be held in Phoenix to contain costs and maximize participation.

The Project - Arizona's only capital resource center (non-profit) - will implement the capital defense portion of the training. The Project will coordinate with the Maricopa County Public Defender to plan the training. The APAAC will work with NDAA to identify appropriate instructors and will provide experts on Arizona's death penalty cases and issues.

The proposed trainings will utilize the approved CCLI curriculum developed by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National District Attorneys Association. Deliverables will include: training materials, conference video recording, follow-up consultation for attendees, and train-the-trainer instruction that will allow for program sustainment after the grant period. Grant funds will cover fiscal agent administrative expenses, in-state travel costs, conference related expenses (materials, packets, rental fees, and CDs), and consultant fees (for training).

CA/NCF