The seventh annual PJDC Roundtable was held on November 6, 2010 at Sacramento State University.  More than 80 attorneys attended the day-long event, which attracted attorneys from across the state, but especially from Northern California and the Sacramento Valley.  Attendees were able to attend presentations on topics including on juvenile justice legislation and litigation, new appellate caselaw, immigration issues, disposition and diversion options for children, restitution, confessions, public benefits for children in juvenile justice, and the first-ever panel discussion of the challenges facing defenders in small counties and small offices.

PJDC also presented its 2010 “Defender of the Year” award to Sue Burrell, Youth Law Center staff attorney and PJDC board member, for her incredible career of advocacy for vulnerable youth in California and across the country.  PJDC Executive Director Patti Lee noted that Sue’s efforts through the MacArthur Foundation’s Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network (JIDAN) over the past two years had transformed PJDC into a vibrant community of more than 400 defenders across the state who are able to learn from one another to better advocate for their clients.

Materials from the Roundtable will be posted in the PJDC members-only Resource Bank.