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                                            CASE DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST

                                                                ______ v.______

                                                                      Case No.                                                                

 A.        BACKGROUND INFORMATION

          Client=s full name:

         SSN:

         DOB:

         Trial Proceedings:         Court:

Case No.:

Judge:

Attorney:

Prosecutor:

First Phase Dates:

Sentencing Date: 

         Direct Appeal:  Case No.:

Attorney:         

Prosecutor:

Result:

Date of Decision:

Citation to Opinion:

Motion for Rehearing?:

Date of Ruling:

Cert Petition?:  

Date of Ruling: 

         PostConvction: Court:

Case No.:

Attorney:

Judge:  

Prosecutor:

Hearing Held?:

Petition for Review:                   Date Filed:

Date of Ruling:

Cert Petition?:  

Date of Ruling: 

         Resentencing/ReTrial:


         TEAM MEETING:

Who are the team members?:

Establish Roles/Assignments:

Schedule Regular Follow Up: 

B.        GATHERING THE STATE COURT RECORD                                       

          Order Dockets from all courts

         Obtain files from all previous attorneys (maintain integrity of file)

         Organize filebackers in accordance with Dockets

Make Copies of all documents from previous attorneys

Identify Missing Documents and Transcripts

         Obtain copies of any document that we do not have.  Place those items in the filebacker on blue paper.

         Obtain copies of oral argument tapes

 C.        POLICE REPORTS:

          Identify All investigating agencies

         Create files for each

         Obtain complete copies of files from each investigating agency

(Copy onto blue paper)

         Organize Police Reports in Chronological order

 D.        PRIORS:

          Complete Sections B & C above for each

 E.         ISSUE IDENTIFICATION

 1.         REVIEWING THE RECORD

          Transcript Summaries

         Review Court Files/ME=s/Briefs/Petitions

Flow Chart of Issues Raised

         Read Police Reports

Witness Summaries

Chronology of Police Investigation

Summary of Physical Evidence

         Visit Scene

         View Evidence

         List all potential issues

 2.         SOCIAL HISTORY DOCUMENT COLLECTION

         Obtain Releases

         Identify all living family members

Interview (general information)(obtain releases)

         Gather Records (for as many generations as possible)

Birth

Educational

Employment

Medical

Prison

Probation

Juvenile

Religious

Military

Mental Health

Prior Psych Evals

Vital Statistics Records

Birth

Marriage

Divorce

Death

Memorablia

Diplomas

Yearbooks

Certificates

Awards

Photographs

Art Work

Poetry

         Chronology

         Genogram

         Identify themes

 3.         INVESTIGATION

         Interviews

Family

Neighbors

Teachers

Coaches

Employers

Clergy

Ex-wives

Probation Officers

Juvenile Court Workers

Jail Workers

Prison Guards

Prison Work Supervisors

Doctors

Nurses

Previous Attorneys

Previous Investigators

Previous Prosecutors   

Previous Judges

Jurors

Bailiff(s)

Court Reporter(s)

Previous Shrinks

          Psych Eval

Identify Deficiency

Identify Qualified Dr.

Negotiate Fee/Availability

Obtain Approval

Send Documents

Consult with Dr. re: issues/addtl investigation needed

Arrange Client Meeting with Dr. and attorney

prepare client for meeting ahead of time

obtain court order

arrange for visit with prison

          Guilt/Innocence Witness Interviews


                                                Civilians

Cops

Experts

Co-Defendants

          Background on Key Players

Bar Files on all attorneys

Priors on all material witnesses

Media Search on cops

 E.         PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

          Theme of the Case

         Outline Issues

         List Unexhausted Issues

         Discovery Motions

         Split up issues amongst attorneys

         Write the damn thing

 F.         FOLLOW UP:

         Confirm District Court File is complete

         State Court Successor?

Return to 2002 DP Start
Return to Agenda of Conference
Return to Kelley and Kelly