As part of NACDL’s Public Defense Training Program, NACDL visited Utah to provide a free training to defense lawyers. While in Utah, NACDL Public Affairs & Communications Assistant Allie Funk had the opportunity to sit down with Judge Michael W. Kwan to discuss the right to counsel in America. Since 1998, Judge Kwan has served the Taylorsville Municipal Justice Court in Taylorsville, Utah, which is a suburb of Salt Lake City. This court is one of limited jurisdiction, meaning it handles Class B misdemeanors, Class C misdemeanors, and infractions. Judge Kwan presides over a range of charges, from speeding and moving violations to drug possession, sex work, domestic violence, and driving under the influence. Learn more about NACDL. Alexandra Funk, host; Ivan J. Dominguez, production assistant. Music West Bank (Lezet) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 and Walkabout (Digital Primitives) / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. Running time: 17m45s.

In this episode, we hear from American University School of Communication Professor Rick Stack about a forthcoming, very important documentary concerning the death penalty in America, entitled In The Executioner’s Shadow. This documentary is co-produced by Rick Stack and Professor Maggie Burnette Stogner, also of the American University School of Communication. And the project has been made possible through the support of American University. On Wednesday, April 11, the American University School of Communication will be hosting the first pre-screening of the film. The event is open to the public. Following the pre-screening, there will be a panel discussion. The panel will consist of the three primary characters in the documentary as well as both filmmakers and Diann Rust-Tierney, executive director of the National Coalition Against Death Penalty. Learn more about NACDL. Ivan J. Dominguez, host. Music West Bank (Lezet) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 and Walkabout (Digital Primitives) / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0. Running time: 12m40s.