SC BAR

The Criminal Law Section Council met on August 17, 2006, via conference call. Participating members included William D. Bilton, Lesley Coggiola, H. Trey Gowdy III, Kathrine H. Hudgins and David P. Schwacke. Representing the Bar staff was Tara Smith.

 

Chairperson Schwacke called the meeting to order.

 

The first item of business was approval of the minutes from the May 11, 2006, meeting. Mr. Gowdy moved approval of the minutes. Ms. Coggiola seconded the motion, and it was approved.

 

The next item of business was discussion on the FY2006-07 Section goals. The following goals were approved as follows:

1. Continue efforts to secure federal and state student loan forgiveness for prosecutors and public defenders and monitor pending legislation in Congress and the general assembly.

2. Continue to address the status of state funding for the criminal justice system and support efforts to increase state funding.

3. Continue to review and objectively evaluate the Pilot Track Docketing System and provide advice upon request to attorneys in circuits, which are implementing the system.

4. Monitor the impact of magistrate level appointments pursuant to Alabama v. Shelton on indigent defense system.

 

In the next item was discussion on the FY2007-08 Council nominations. Ms. Smith reported that the Council nominations were due by November 15 and noted that the position of Secretary and two Council member seats, expiring in 2010, were vacant. Donald Zelenka was nominated to serve as Secretary. Ms. Hudgins was to contact Patton Adams to gauge his interest in serving on the Council. The proposed slate was to be presented to the Council for consideration at the next meeting.

 

Next was discussion on cosponsoring the ABA Criminal Justice Section fall conference scheduled for November 2-3, 2006 in New Orleans. The seminar would focus on disaster preparedness and recovery. The ABA has asked that the Section assist with promoting the program through the Section listserve and post on the Web site. As cosponsors, the Section would be acknowledged in all conference promotional materials.  

 

Mr. Bilton moved that the Section cosponsor the ABA Criminal Justice Section fall conference. Mr. Gowdy seconded the motion, and it was approved. Ms. Smith was asked to inform the ABA of the Council’s decision.

 

Pilot Track Docketing Questionnaire – Ms. Smith e-mailed the revised questionnaire to the Council for input. It was the consensus of the Council to distribute the Section members, elected solicitors and chief public defenders as is.    

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.