The Role of the Prosecutor Virtual Event

Prosecutors have been described as the most powerful actors in the American criminal justice system, but how much do you know about the role they play in our community? Join CALEB for a Justice Series event highlighting prosecutors’ discretion both inside and outside of the courtroom, the power they wield with plea deals, and their relation to issues of mass incarceration and jail overcrowding. We’ll also discuss ways that prosecutors can respond to new evidence to deal justly regarding previous convictions. District Attorneys are elected only once every eight years in Hamilton County, and it’s important for the community to voice our values regarding criminal justice and reform.

When: Tuesday, March 15th, 2022  |  6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Zoom event with Facebook Livestream

Register for the event here: https://secure.everyaction.com/Ny8ZFWK6I0GWK1b0QXjuMA2

About our Guest Speakers:

Lee Davis is a criminal defense lawyer and a former prosecutor. He was the first attorney in the United States to introduce mitochondrial DNA as evidence. Lee has tried over two hundred jury trials to a verdict including lead counsel in six death penalty cases. Lee has argued cases before the Tennessee Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.  Mr. Davis was an Assistant District Attorney in Chattanooga where he prosecuted serious felony cases including cold case homicide investigations and more than twenty first degree murder jury trials. He has served as Special Prosecutor and Special Judge in criminal proceedings in Tennessee.

Jessica Van Dyke graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School, where, as a law student, she cut her teeth on post-conviction work in the university's Wrongful Convictions Clinic. She has remained passionate about wrongful convictions and after eight years at Parker Lawrence Cantrell & Smith, left the firm in January 2019 to help launch the Tennessee Innocence Project. Jessica is a proud graduate of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and received her Master’s from Vanderbilt University. Jessica has served on the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Board of Directors and served for several years as the organization’s Indigent Defense Chair. She has been the recipient of TACDL’s Workhouse Award and the Robert W. Ritchie Service Award. She is a member of the Nashville Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She serves as the Executive Director & Lead Counsel for the Tennessee Innocence Project.