For the fourteenth consecutive year, Santa Clara University School of Law is holding the Bryan R. Shechmeister Death Penalty College from July 30, 2005 – August 4, 2005.
The program began in 1992 when Santa Clara County public defender Shechmeister came to (then) law school Dean Jerry Uelmen to create a training program for lawyers with pre-trial capital cases. Dean Uelmen brought in Professor Ellen Kreitzberg to work with Shechmeister and Kreitzberg remains the director of the program today.
The Death Penalty College is an intensive training program limited to defense attorneys who represent persons charged in capital cases. During the six days, lawyers spend each morning in small group workshops brainstorming and working on their pending cases. Each afternoon, experts from around the country provide lectures to assist the lawyers in preparing and presenting the penalty trial.
This year 72 lawyers from more than 23 states will be participating in the program. More than 23 experienced capital lawyers will comprise the faculty. Director Kreitzberg hails this program as an important tool in ensuring the fairness of our system of justice. Too often, Kreitzberg asserts, the death penalty is imposed not on the person who committed the worst crime, but on those who are unfortunate enough to have the worse lawyer. This program is an effort to provide lawyers important tools in the fight to protect life. This program is also consistent with the Jesuit mission of providing lawyers of conscience, competence and compassion.
The Death Penalty College at Santa Clara University School of Law has been hailed as a model for capital training around the country. Past participants have proclaimed:
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"It’s hard to separate the significant intellectual content from the profound emotional spiritual content, since both were such important parts of the impact on me."
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"I came away from the college with a feeling of utmost pride that I am able to be part of the death penalty defense community."
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"I believe that anyone who is trying a capital case should attend the college."
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"What a marvelous productive experience… The luxury of being able to focus completely on one case was and is extraordinary!"
