Criminal Law Library Blog
The American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section and the Alabama State Bar Association Present
Ethics – Politics and Public Corruption
April 3, 2009 Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa, Birmingham, Alabama
On April 3, 2009 in Birmingham, Ala. the ABA Criminal Justice Section and the Alabama State Bar Association will address substantive and procedural issues surrounding public corruption during a one-day CLE program titled Ethics – Politics – and Public Corruption.
Click for the conference brochure abanet.org/crimjust/calendar/2009springconference.doc
The impact of public corruption extends far beyond the courthouse. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that at least 10 percent of the funding for federal government programs is lost to public corruption and government fraud every year. The U.S. Department of Justice considers the investigation and prosecution of public corruption to be one of its top priorities, with recent investigations having resulted in charges and convictions of federal officials in all branches of government, as well as against numerous state and local officials.
The program – which will consist of four separate panels featuring journalists, judges, prosecutors, defense counsel and legal scholars – will discuss and provide practical direction of the boundaries between legitimate political activity and corruption and explore the impact of aggressive prosecutions on certain conduct; explore the role of prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges in the trial of public corruption cases; and consider the media’s influence in such cases, and how the players — prosecutors, defense lawyers and judges — can best deal with the media within the bounds of law and ethics.
The event will take place at the stunning and majestic Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa which features a Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail course highlighted by sweeping majestic views of the surrounding foothills as well as a lavish 12,000 square foot European spa, exclusively designed to ensure complete relaxation and tranquility.