2007-2008 Center for Excellence in Advocacy Speakers
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
John Knoll will speak on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at Washburn University School of Law at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about "Putting the Law In Law Enforcement." Mr. Knoll is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Topeka, Kansas, serving as Chief of Prosecution and Police Legal Advisor. He is responsible for supervising prosecution of misdemeanor and traffic offenses in the Topeka Municipal Court and providing legal advice and assistance to the police department and other departments upon request. He also teaches legal subjects to police recruits and police officers. Previously, Mr. Knoll was a Central Staff Research Attorney for both the Kansas Court of Appeals and the Kansas Supreme Court and was an Assistant Attorney General in the Litigation Division of the Kansas Attorney General's Office. He also served briefly as a Municipal Judge in the Topeka Municipal Court. Mr. Knoll earned a BBA in Accounting & Business Administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 1987 and his Juris Doctor from Washburn University School of Law in 1990.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Jean Miller will speak on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about the Shawnee County Citizen Review Board (CRB). The Citizen Review Board is a group of concerned citizens who serve as advisors to juvenile judges in cases regarding children. Some of these cases involve children already determined to be children in need of care. Other cases involve juvenile offenses, usually minor issues. The CRB reviews the cases and assesses progress toward the goals established in particular case plans and may suggest alternatives if progress has been insufficient. Law students with an interest in family law, advocacy, or juvenile law and justice have the opportunity to become to serve on the CRB and become familiar with the court system. Jean Miller, a graduate of Washburn University, is a long time coordinator of this program. She will explain the work of the CRB and the commitment involved in serving as a volunteer board member. Professor Michael Kaye recently observed the Board hearing a case and will also report on the process.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Ken Carpenter will speak on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about "The Potential and Perils of Practicing Veterans Law." Ken Carpenter has been engaged in the private practice of law in Topeka, Kansas since 1973; veterans law is the exclusive area of practice by Carpenter, Chartered, a professional legal corporation. Carpenter Chartered began doing pro bono representation of disabled veterans in 1983. The primary focus of the firm's representation is with the psychiatrically disabled veteran, predominantly veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. The firm also specializes in cases involving total disability ratings and earlier effective dates. Mr. Carpenter earned a B.A. in History & Political Science and B.A. in Philosophy & Religion from Southwestern College, Winfield, Kansas, in 1970. He received his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 1972 and a Masters in Adult & Community Counseling from Kansas State University in 1983. Mr. Carpenter is admitted to practice before the Kansas Supreme Court, the Federal District Court for the District of Kansas, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the United States Supreme Court. He was also a founding member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Ron Pope of Ralston, Pope & Diehl will speak on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at Washburn University School of Law at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about "Effective Voir Dire." See the Winter 2005 issue of Washburn Lawyer for more information about Mr. Pope.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Troy Huser of Huser Law Offices will speak on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Washburn University School of Law at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about "Attorney Misconduct in Closing Argument." Mr. Huser is a private attorney practicing primarily in the areas of DUI, criminal and traffic defense.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Peter Jouras will speak on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at Washburn University School of Law at 12 p.m. in Room 114 about depositions in the presentation, "How to defend against Rambo Tactics." Mr. Jouras' practice focuses on the rights of individuals who have been harmed. His areas of specialty include bad faith insurance litigation and electrocution cases involving high-voltage power line companies and individuals who suffer from brain damage. Mr. Jouras practices law in Kansas and Missouri. As an undergraduate, he earned two degrees - English and business administration – from the University of Kansas. He earned his two law degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, including a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Laws in Taxation. Mr. Jouras has also taught Bankruptcy Law and Introduction to Law at Johnson County Community College, and he has led continuing legal education presentations to other practicing attorneys at the local and national level.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Robert Beattie '93, a solo practitioner in Wichita, Kansas, will speak on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at Washburn University School of Law at 3 p.m. in room 114 about "BTK: Writing a Surprise Bestseller." Beattie is the author of the true crime book Nightmare in Wichita: The Hunt for the BTK Strangler, which was the basis for the CBS/Sony made-for-television movie "The Hunt for the BTK Killer." The book was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Beattie is currently working on a book about the case of Dr. Thomas Murray, the Kansas State University English Professor who was convicted of murdering his ex-wife, attorney Carmin Ross.
Related resources:
- http://robert-beattie.com/
- http://nightmareinwichita.com/
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE4D7133FF933A25757C0A9639C8B63
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Ron Pope, from the law firm Ralston, Pope & Diehl, will speak on Thursday, October 4, 2007 at Washburn University School of Law at noon in room 102 at the program "Demonstration on Effective Jury Selection."
Related resources:
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Chris Biggs, the current Kansas Securities Commissioner, will speak on Thursday, September 20, 2007 at Washburn University School of Law at noon in room 102 about the "Development of Case Theory: Murder by Dogs." Mr. Biggs' presentation is about the case of State v. Davidson, 267 Kan. 667 (1999), a case in which the owner of several rottweilers was found guilty of reckless second degree murder when the dogs attacked and killed an 11-year-old boy in Geary County. Mr. Biggs was at that time the Geary County Attorney.
Related resources:
