May 11, 2013

Fidler Institute honors four, hears from legendary defense attorney Judy Clarke

After a full day of panels and talks by criminal justice luminaries, four individuals were honored for their outstanding contributions to the field at Loyola Law School's seventh annual Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Larry Fidler, the institute's namesake, Central District U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins and Los Angeles County Superior Court Presiding Judge David Wesley were honored as judges of the year before many of their colleagues on the bench. Central District U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. was given the prosecutor of the year award while his counterpart Central District Federal Public Defender Sean Kennedy accepted the defense lawyer of the year honor. The institute featured a lunch talk by legendary defense attorney Judy Clarke who was apparently coaxed to the conference at the last minute by her close friend Kennedy. Clarke, who has represented high profile defendants such as Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and more recently Arizona mass shooter Jared Loughner, spoke passionately about the moral quandary of the death penalty and her robust work to prevent individuals from being sentenced to it. Loyola Law School professor Laurie Levenson hosted the institute, which featured speakers such as Los Angeles Superior Court judges Kelvin Filer and Lisa Lench; 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Thomas Willhite Jr.; Northern District U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag; as well as number of other attorneys from prosecutorial agencies, private practice and advocacy groups. - Henry Meier