FY 2010-12 Capital Litigation Training 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 National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) will utilize the CCLI grant funds to train state and local prosecutors. NDAA will conduct five capital litigation courses at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. Two courses will be a broad survey of capital litigation. Two other courses will focus on advanced issues relating to capital cases with the remaining course focusing on mental health issues as they relate to capital punishment. Each training will be given to 40 prosecutors, for a total of 200 prosecutors receiving in-person training through this award.

NDAA will also provide ongoing technical assistance to prosecutors, such as research assistance, responding to requests for any publications, for information on prosecution and defense expert witnesses, and advice on trial strategy.

CA/NCF