2006 Mid-Year Meeting

Workshop on Criminal Law and Procedure:
Lessons from Other Disciplines and New Realities
June 14-16, 2006
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Why Attend?
Stability is not a hallmark of the law of criminal justice. World events have highlighted new threats and birthed new fears. Courts and lawmakers have responded to these events, creating in turn a panoply of questions about the procedural rights of the criminally accused and the proper use of the criminal sanction. Every year the United States Supreme Court accepts and decides cases in the criminal justice area in ways that sometimes affirm, but more often clarify, modify, or even abandon established criminal justice doctrines.

This fluid state of world events and the evolving nature of law in the criminal justice area is matched by a growing number of important bodies of work outside of the legal academy, and deepening theoretical understandings inside of it. The quest to keep current in the face of theoretical refinements occurring within the discipline often seems challenge enough, leading us to neglect to consider the lessons of other these disciplines and how that work might also contribute to the questions that continue to engage us.

This multi-day workshop will provide an opportunity for criminal law and procedure teachers and scholars to enjoy some time together reflecting upon recent developments in the criminal justice field in a quickly changing world. Our discussions will reach beyond the boundaries that often cabin our courses and our scholarship. They will incorporate the insights of an assortment of disciplines, and consider not only the intersections that exist among us, but the way in which those intersections can inform and even influence the work that lays ahead.

Six distinguished panels will lead our discussions about those developments and intersections. Together we will explore the role of history in criminal jurisprudence, and the ways in which criminal law and procedure intersects with and can learn from evolving understandings of economics, politics, culture and society. Another panel will consider how our teaching might change to incorporate some of those lessons and changing realities as well. Small groups will explore the specific topics raised by the panels, and plenary discussions will enable us to explore them collectively.

~ Planning Committee for AALS Workshop on Criminal Law and Procedure: Lessons from Other Disciplines and New Realities
Angela J. Davis, American University
Sharon L. Davies, Ohio State University, Chair
Don L. Doernberg, Pace University
Tamara R. Piety, University of Tulsa

Who Should Attend?
Although the workshop will surely benefit criminal law and procedure scholars and teachers at all levels of experience, in light of its interdisciplinary focus, it will also be of interest to teachers of civil rights, constitutional law, evidence, international human rights, law and economics, law and the humanities, law and interpretation, minority groups, and law and social science.

When is this Workshop?
The workshop will begin on Wednesday, June 14, with registration at starting at 10:00 a.m., followed by two and a half days of plenary sessions and small group discussions. The workshop will conclude at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 16. In addition to the program sessions, a reception will be held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and luncheons will be held on Thursday and Friday.

Where is this Workshop?
The workshop sessions and sleeping accommodations will be at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, 1088 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2R9 Canada. The room rate is CAD 209.00 (US$176 at the time of printing) for single or double occupancy. This rate is subject to 7% Goods and Service Tax and 10% Provincial Sales Tax. To make a reservation: call (604) 331-1000 (do not use the toll free reservation number) or complete the Hotel Reservation Request included in this brochure and fax the form to (604) 893-7200. The cut-off date for making a room reservation is May 19, 2006. Specify the AALS Mid-Year Meeting when making a reservation in order to receive the special rate. Please note that the cut-off date does not guarantee availability. To ensure accommodations, please make your hotel reservation early.

Child Care
Child care can be arranged through the hotel concierge. Neither the hotel nor AALS recommends these services but provides this information for your reference.