Strategies for Court: Protecting Victims’ Records and Confidentiality
Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from Noon to 1:00 pm
About the Webinar:
This workshop explores the legal and public policy reasons for vigorously protecting victim confidentiality. The speakers will review state and federal statutes and caselaw, including recent precedential opinions from Minnesota’s appellate courts. In addition, the presenters will provide strategies for responding to defense motions for access to or in camera review of privileged and/or confidential victim records and will provide a detailed memorandum that participants can use when objecting to these motions.
MAC will apply for 1.0 Standard CLE credits.
Educational Objectives:
· Objective 1: Participants will understand the importance of victim confidentiality policies
· Objective 2: Participants will know the laws and other obligations protecting victim confidentiality
· Objective 3: Participants will have strategies to respond to victim records requests
Presenter Bios:
Rana Alexander has worked in the domestic and sexual violence field since 1997. Ms. Alexander joined Standpoint in 2005 and became the executive director in 2016. As an attorney for the statewide organization, she provides legal advice and consultation to domestic and sexual violence victims, advocates and attorneys on legal issues that affect domestic and sexual violence victims. Ms. Alexander also provides training and outreach to attorneys involving issues of domestic and sexual violence and the law. Ms. Alexander is a graduate of Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Massachusetts, and received, with distinction, her Bachelors of Science degree in psychology and a minor in women studies from Iowa State University.
Kelly Moller is an assistant Hennepin County attorney, where she handles felony-level appeals on behalf of the State. Previously Kelly worked as an assistant Attorney General, and as the executive director of the Minnesota Alliance on Crime. In 2018, Kelly was elected to serve on the Minnesota House of Representatives, representing the communities of Arden Hills, Mounds View, and Shoreview. She is the vice chair of the Judiciary Committee and has championed several pieces of legislation to provide justice to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
Adam Petras is an assistant Hennepin County attorney, where he handles felony-level appeals on behalf of the State and supervises a team of law clerks who prosecute the misdemeanor-level offenses over which the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction. Previously, Adam worked as an assistant Ramsey County Attorney, where he was a trial prosecutor and later began focusing on appellate and postconviction work. Adam serves on the MSBA’s Appellate Practice Council, is active in the Minnesota County Attorney’s Association, and is always willing to help out and talk through an issue with a colleague from across the state.
This webinar is FREE for all.