Forensic Science Training for Capital Litigators

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.

Stetson University will utilize the CCLI grant funds to train defense counsel and prosecutors. The College of Law will deliver two two-day training sessions focusing on scientific evidence issues for capital litigators. Litigators will be taught how to obtain and use scientific evidence and how to obtain expert witnesses and respond to opposing ones. Registration will only be open to attorneys from states with capital punishment and preference will be given to litigators whose law school education did not include an in-depth study on scientific evidence. The trainings will be given to 90 prosecutors and 90 defense attorneys.

After the training, all printed materials and digital recordings of the trainings will be posted on the grantee's web site for the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology, and at the Stetson University College of Law.

Grant funds will be used for personnel costs, for the site and supplies for the trainings, and for the travel costs for the trainers, staff, and the trainees.

CA/NCF