'Visual Trial School' presented by PAAM October 6-8 in Pontiac

The Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM) will conduct a “Visual Trial School” Wednesday through Friday, October 6-8, at the Marriot Auburn Hills Pontiac Campus, 3600 Centerpoint Parkway in Pontiac.

This two-and-a-half-day course will focus on the effective use of PowerPoint and other courtroom-related technology. It will also discuss issues related to remote hearings and trying cases in the current environment.

This course will feature lectures and materials covering litigation technology strategies, best practices, advocacy/persuasion, screen capture, video redaction, the visual trial, Using Technology in Vehicular Homicide Cases, and ethics. There will be two lab groups (beginner and intermediate) for guided lab sessions.

Special Agent Christopher Hess of the Federal Bureau of Investigation will offer a presentation on Historical Cell Phone Geolocation Analysis.

PAAM will demonstrate how to use Sanction litigation software, screen capture software, video redaction software (Camtasia), and audio redaction software (Audacity) in court and in preparation for trial. Sanction litigation software is a non-linear litigation software tool used by the Department of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal, the Judge Advocate General, and state prosecutors nationwide to organize and present complicated cases to a jury. There will also be some opportunities to work with Sanction Litigation software. Attendees may download a free trial but need to do so in advance of the course via the company’s website, www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/sanction.page. 

There are software/equipment requirements for this training. Contact APA Patrick Muscat of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office at pmuscat@waynecounty.com or 313-224-6643 for any questions about software or course content.

There is no registration fee for this event.  Breakfast (Oct. 6-8) and lunch (Oct. 6 and 7 only) are provided at training. The registration deadline is Wednesday, September 22. Registration is online only and space is limited to the first 35 registrants. To register, visit www.michiganprosecutor.org and click on “Training.”

For questions about the registration process, contact Amy Gronowski of PAAM at gronowskia@michigan.gov or 517-643-2114.