Blog: 100 students and faculty of the Criminal Law Society at USD

Criminal Law Society at the University of San Diego School of Law
April 23

This is my blog detailing my speaking engagements. This day…
In attendance were 100 students and faculty of the Criminal Law Society at USD. The speakers were Judge Joan Weber, Ples Felix, Judge Peter Deddeh (who prosecuted Tariq’s case), Henry Coker (Public Defender who defended Tony) and me. This was a unique presentation. Judge Weber opened the conversation by saying that that she has been a Judge for 25 years and tried thousands of cases including hundreds of complicated murder cases. In every case the defendant’s family resided on one side of the courtroom and the victim’s family stood on the other side. Each time they left the courtroom hating each other. She noted there was ONLY one case that was different than this. All of the speakers were able to give their individual perspectives. The impact the case has had and will continue to have is to show what is possible. In every crime there is an opportunity to better society – as is the case in Tariq’s tragedy. Imagine what the world would look like if all crimes had this kind of an outcome. The good thing is that this presentation was videotaped, and my goal is that every law school should view this presentation as part of their legal training in the nation and the world.