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This lecture describes the practical problems of presenting justified use of force defenses in Illinois. Topics include: (1) burdens of proof, including the relationship between self defense and second degree murder, (2) deadly force, (3) rules governing use of force by initial aggressors and non-aggressors, (4) no duty to retreat, (5) “Lynch” material, (6) the relationship between self defense and defenses such as necessity, mistake, insanity, and accident, and (7) preparation of the justification case for trial.
Learning Objectives:
Law Office of Stephen L. Richards
Areas of Practice
• Murder -- Homicide -- Death Penalty Cases
• Serious Felonies
• Drug / Weapons Cases
• Appeals -- Post-Convictions
• Sentencing -- Mitigation
• Civil Rights/1983
• Legal Education
• Legal Ethics
Litigation Percentage
• 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
• Certified Lead Counsel, Capital Litigation Trial Bar, Illinois Supreme Court, 2001
Bar Admissions
• Illinois, 1985
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2008
Education
• Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York
o J.D. - 1983
o Honors: Order of Barristers, Moot Court
• University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
o B.A.
o Honors: With Honors
o Major: History
Published Works
• Reasonable Doubt Redux, 34 John Marshall L. Rev. 495, 2001
• The Admissibility of Expert Testimony, American Bar Association, 2003
Representative Cases
• People v. Terry Griggs, 152 Ill.2d 1, 604 N.E.2d 257 (Ill. S. Ct. 1992)
• People v. Arthur King, 154 Ill.2d 217, 608 N.E.2d 877 (Ill. S. Ct. 1993)
Classes/Seminars
• New Ideas for Jury Selection, Illinois Public Defender Association, 2007
• Capital Jury Selection, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal, 2007
Honors and Awards
• Kutak-Dodds Award, Defender Prize, National Legal Aid and Defender Association, 2003
Professional Associations and Memberships
• Illinois Public Defender Association, President, 2006 - 2008
• Illinois Public Defender Association, Board Member, 2000 - Present
Past Employment Positions
• Office of the State Appellate Defender, Deputy Defender, 2000 - 2008
• Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Assistant Public Defender, 1989 - 2000
Great presentation and examples
Good presentation.
Superb summary of self defense and justification law
Coherent thorough presentation.
Good use of actual experience
Excellent speaker!
The instructor used relevant personal case experience which was highly effective.
This presentation was informative and fascinating.
Informative
This presenter is really great and I like that he uses examples from his practice to illustrate the concepts.
Helpful and cited well
My fav course so far. Liked that gave several case examples
Interesting course!
Solid
The speaker was engaging and so knowledgeable. The wealth of legal cites in the materials and his tying those cites to current cases was quite helpful.
Very informative and enjoyable presentation. For some reason, the link to download the written materials was not functioning. I would very much like to have these. Please email me to let me know how I can obtain them.
Use of actual personal cases help illustrate the law well.
it was interesting
Full of insights
Richards hits the bull’s eye again in this masterfully paced Lawline program that thoughtfully relays the pros and cons, pluses and minuses of the justified use of force defense in Illinois. Case illustrations and presenter’s professional experiences are generously shared throughout this adeptly delivered presentation.
