Zealous Advocacy Conference to emphasize ethics, impact of trauma in juvenile justice

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Jun 22, 2016, 12:31 ET

HOUSTON, June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Juvenile justice attorneys will meet in July for the 15^th annual Zealous Advocacy Conference at University of Houston Law Center. The event, titled, "Being a Strong Advocate for the Juvenile Client," is co-sponsored by the UHLC's Center for Children, Law & Policy and the Southwest Juvenile Defender Center. It will be held July 14-15.

The conference is an annual training seminar and the premier professional development training for juvenile defense attorneys practicing in the Southwestern United States.

"We are very excited about this upcoming Zealous Advocacy Conference," said Ellen Marrus, director of the Center for Children, Law & Policy and George Butler Research Professor of Law at the UH Law Center. As in years past we have a great lineup of speakers and sessions, but this year is special. It is our 15th anniversary of providing a conference that was
developed specifically for juvenile defenders.

"This year also begins the 50th anniversary celebration of In re Gault, the landmark decision ensuring children the right to counsel in delinquency cases. The Supreme Court said that no other rights matter for children if they don't have an attorney at their side to help guide them through the process. The Zealous Advocacy Conference helps attorneys have the tools they need to be strong and effective advocates for their clients."

Marrus is one of 11 speakers at the conference. Additional speakers include:

Angelo Giardino of the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital
Judge Darlene Byrne '87 of the 126^th District Court of Travis County
Nadia Seeratan of the National Juvenile Defender Center
Dustin Rynders of Disability Rights
Brenden Shaw of KIPP Academy
Christina Phillis of the Maricopa County Public Advocate Office
Daphne Robinson, the MCH Special Projects Coordinator of the Louisiana Department of Health
Diane Vines of the Child Trauma Center
Dr. Stephen Baldridge of Abilene Christian University
Professor Malikah Marrus of Hood College

Attorneys attending the two-day conference will receive 12 hours of CLE credit, including four hours of ethics credit. Specialization credit in criminal appellate, criminal law, family law and juvenile law is pending.

Click here for more information.

Media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, [email protected]; John T. Kling, UH Law Center Communications Manager, 713-743-8298, [email protected]; Elena Hawthorne, Multimedia Specialist, 713-743- 1125, [email protected]; John Brannen, Senior Writer, 713-743-3055, [email protected]

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 42,700 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

About the University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center is the leading law school in the nation's fourth-largest city. Founded in 1947, it is a top-tier institution awarding Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees. The Law Center is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

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SOURCE University of Houston Law Center