Past Conferences
19th Annual Litigation Skills Training Program
Effective Advocacy Under the Fair Housing Laws
January 27-27,2011
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center conducted its 19th annual training on Effective Advocacy Under the Fair housing Laws, a skills training program for attorneys who litigate fair housing cases.
The program focused on the practical skills an attorney needs to proceed in a contested hearing or trial in a fair housing case.
Program
Fair Housing/Fair Lending: New Developments in American and International Law
October 1 - 2, 2010
Discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing violates many federal, state, and local laws. It also violates some of the international treaties that the United States has ratified. A panel of government officials discussed the report compiled by the United States for the United Nations on our compliance with our international obligations to eliminate discrimination in housing. Another panel evaluated the mandate that the federal government and all recipients of federal funding affirmatively further fair housing. Speakers and panelists also focused on the current crisis most dramatically associated with foreclosures and the loss of both owner occupied and rental housing, the challenges posed by discrimination in public and subsidized housing and in the private housing market, and the resulting problem of homelessness.
Summary
Program Agenda
Brochure
Fair Housing Law and Enforcement: A Basic Survey of the Law and Practice
April 16 & 17, 2010
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center hosted its annual April conference, “Fair Housing Law and Enforcement: A Basic Survey of the Law and Practice” on April 16th and 17th, 2010.
Nationally recognized Baltimore attorney, Beth Pepper, was the keynote speaker. Ms. Peppers’ practice focuses on the rights of people with disabilities and minorities in the areas of housing, employment, and education. Her address was a reflection of the progress made in fair housing this past decade. She reviewed the significant appellate and trail court decisions under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), provided a synopsis of group home and zoning cases in the federal courts under FHA and ADA, and summarized the significant cases in the Maryland federal and state courts brought under the Fair Housing Act.
Steven H. Rosenbaum, Chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in the Department of Justice, was the luncheon speaker. Mr. Rosenbaum’s address was entitled “New Enforcement Initiatives.” He provided a summary of recent accomplishments the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section filed or resolved recently to exemplify the efforts of DOJ to ensure the availability of the housing opportunities guaranteed by the Fair Housing Act.
Throughout the two day conference, experts in the field of fair housing participated on six panels. Each panel addressed specific fair housing topics including: Fair Lending and Predatory Lending; Accessible Housing for Persons with Disabilities; Protected Classes and Covered Dwellings; Discriminatory Housing Practices; Testing; and Remedies. Ample question and answer periods followed each panel presentation. Moderators and panelists made themselves available to continue discussions one on one after each session.
The vast majority of attendees of this conference were practicing attorneys, employed in private practice or community-based legal aid societies, and by all levels of federal, state, and local government. Other of attendees were employed by private housing groups, a REALTOR association and an architectural firm. Several law students and interns were also in attendance. This year’s group of attendees represented seventeen states and the District of Columbia. The overall demographics of attendees, speakers, moderators and panelists assembled provided an excellent basis for insightful and valuable discussions.
Program
18th Annual Litigation Skills Training Program: Effective Advocacy under the Fair Housing Laws
February 4 - 6, 2010
The Fair Housing Legal Support Center hosted its 18th annual Litigation Skills Training Program, titled “Effective Advocacy under Fair Housing Laws.”
Fifteen attorneys with a broad range of experience in fair housing litigation, ranging from one to nineteen years, attended the three-day training program. They are employed in private practice, community-based legal aid societies, and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year’s group of participants represented eleven states, including Hawaii, and the District of Columbia.
This training program focused on developing and honing trial skills necessary to proceed in contested hearings or trials. Trial advocacy techniques used in direct and cross examination of witnesses and presenting effective opening and closing arguments were reviewed and discussed in detail. Each participant received a case study to prior to the conference and was assigned a client to represent. Cases were prepared and presented during a mock fair housing trial before judges.
William C. Cregar, formerly with the HUD Office of Administrative Law Judges in Washington, D. C., Judge Deborah Myers-Cregar, Office of Administrative Hearing, Los Angeles, and attorney, Edward Voci, of Chicago, served as our judges/trainers. Each has served as instructors for this and other JMLS Legal Support Center sponsored training programs. Professor F. Willis Caruso presented a module titled “Professional Responsibility and Ethics in Fair Housing” that was well-received by the attendees.
From left to right: Micahel P. Seng, William Cregar, Deborah Myers-Cregar, F. Willis Caruso,
Ed Voci.
Fair Housing in a Time of Crisis
September 11 & 12, 2009
A special certificate of appreciation was presented to Barbara Knox (third from left), Director of the office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region V office, for her continued support and encouragement of the work of the Fair Housing Legal Support Center and Clinic. Making the presentation at the 2009 national fair housing conference on September 11, 2009, are Professor Michael Seng (left), Director of the Center, with Merilyn Brown (JD '90), an attorney advisor at Knox's office. They are joined by John Trasvina, Assistant Secretary, HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
FAIR HOUSING LAW AND ENFORCEMENT
A Basic Survey of the Law and Practice
April 17 & 18, 2009
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center presented a conference, "Fair Housing Law and Enforcement: A Basic Survey of the Law and Practice," on April 17 and 18, 2009.
This conference was designed especially for those persons who are new to fair housing but many experienced fair housing attended and said that they profited from the discussions. The instructors, many of whom were from The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center, took participants through the basic elements of a fair housing action and discussed what persons are protected by the fair housing laws, what properties are covered by the law, what practices are prohibited by the law, and what remedies can be awarded to victims of housing discrimination. Saturday's sessions went more deeply into the special provisions providing accessibility to persons with disabilities, fair and predatory lending discrimination, illegal advertising, and illegal land use practices, including discrimination through zoning, building, and occupancy restrictions. Visiting Professor Robert Schwemm gave a general history of the Fair Housing Act, and Keynote Speaker Christopher Brancart from California discussed the 10 areas that he considered to be of special concern in fair housing at the present moment.
Instructors included: Clinical Professor Allison Bethel, Christopher Brancart (Brancart & Brancart), Professor F. Willis Caruso, Professor Susan Connor, Marian Honel (The Illinois Department of Human Rights), Clinical Instructor Kelly Keating, Maurice J. McGough (HUD), Joann Newsome (City of Chicago Human Relations Commission), Professor Damian Ortiz, Adjunct Professor Lewis Powell, Visiting Professor Robert Schwemm, Professor Michael P. Seng, Lillian Seymore, and Visiting Clinic Professor Edward Voci. The participants were welcomed by Dean Rory Smith.
Click here to view brochure.
Back Row (L-R): F. Willis Caruso, Edward A. Voci, Michael P. Seng, Lillian Seymore,
Kelly J. Keating, J. Damian Ortiz; Front Row (L-R): Robert Schwemm, Joann
Newsome, Maurice McGough, and Marian Honel.
17th Annual Litigation Skills Training
February 5-7, 2009
This marked the seventeenth year the Fair Housing Legal Support Center hosted its Litigation Skills Training, Effective Advocacy Under the Fair Housing Laws.
Sixteen attorneys with one to eight years experience in fair housing litigation participated in the three-day training. They are employed with various nonprofit entities, community-based legal aid societies, fair housing organizations, and government agencies, such as the US. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This year's diverse group of participants represented nine states and the District of Columbia.
This training program focuses on further developing the practical skills attorneys need to proceed in a contested hearing or trial in a fair housing case. Particular emphasis is placed on trial advocacy techniques used in the direct and cross examination of witnesses, opening statements and closing arguments. The participants receive a case study prior to the conference and are grouped into teams with an assigned client to represent. They prepare their cases and present during a mock fair housing trial before judges and attorneys.
This year's trainers included William C. Cregar, formerly with the HUD Office of Administrative Law Judges in Washington, D.C., Judge Deborah Myers, Office of Administrative Hearing, Los Angeles and Attorney Edward Voci of Chicago, who is currently serving as Visiting Clinical Professor to the Fair Housing Legal Clinic. Each of these trainers has served as instructors for this and other Fair Housing Center-sponsored training programs.
Trainers (L to R): Judge Deborah Myers-Cregar, Judge William C. Cregar,
Edward A. Voci, Esq.
The Integration Debate: Competing Futures for American Cities
September 5 and 6, 2008
The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center sponsored an important and lively conference, The Integration Debate: Competing Futures for American Cities. The conference was co-sponsored with The Department of Sociology of George Washington University, the Poverty and Race Research Action Council, and the National Fair Housing Alliance. It was supported by a grant from the Field Foundation and private donations. More than 120 attorneys, academics and fair housing professionals attended from twenty-two states.
Speakers from some of the country's major universities and fair housing organizations discussed the changing demographics of metropolitan America, the shifting legal mandates regarding integration, the economic consequences of segregation, the interrelationship of race, politics and justice, and housing policy initiatives.
The keynote speakers for the conference were Shanna Smith, President and CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance in Washington, DC and Roger Wilkins, The Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History and American Culture at George Mason University. Ms. Smith spoke on Market Barriers to Integration: Mortgage Lending, and Homeowners Insurance. Professor Wilkins gave a closing address on Segregation: The Murderous Legacy. He discussed his childhood in a segregated America, his experiences as an Assistant Attorney General in the Johnson Administraton where he was asked by President Johnson to talk to Mayor Richard J. Daley in an attempt to avert violence at the 1968 Democratic Convention, and his work over the last forty years as a leading civil rights advocate and leader.
The conference explored many provocative issues and left everyone inspired to work to seek solutions for ending the two separate societies described in the Kerner Report in 1968.
Guest presenters were (seated from left) John Relman of Relman & Dane; Professor Mindy Thompson Fullilive, Columbia University; Professor Gregory D. Squires, George Washington University; Professor Roger Wilkins, George Mason University; Professor Stephen Steinberg, Queens College and Graduate Center of the City University of New York; and Maurice McGough, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and (back row, from left) Elizabeth K. Julian and Dementria McCain, Inclusive Communities Project of Dallas; Phillip Tegeler of Poverty and Race Research Action Council; Clinical Professor Allison Bethel, director of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic; Professor Nancy Denton, SUNY-University of Albany; Professor Melvin Oliver, University of California-Santa Barbara; Professor Kris Marsh, University of Maryland; Chester Hartman, Poverty and Race Research Action Council; Professor Florence Wagman Roisman, Indiana University School of Law; Clinical Professor Damian Ortiz of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Clinic; George Lipsitz, University of California-Santa Barbara; and Professor Michael Seng, co-executive director of The John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Legal Support Center.
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