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The Honorable Ken Karas, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York, will deliver the keynote speech at Northwestern Law's annual Short Courses for Prosecuting Attorneys and Defense Lawyers with a presentation entitled “The Rule of Law and the Prosecution and Defense of Terrorism Cases.”

Held concurrently, the 60th Annual Short Course for Prosecuting Attorneys and 48th Annual Short Course for Defense Lawyers in Criminal Cases will take place July 25 through July 28 at Northwestern University School of Law, 357 E. Chicago Ave.

Judge Karas, who will be standing in for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald as keynote speaker, has a strong background trying terrorism cases, including many with Fitzgerald. While serving as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1992 to 2001, Karas worked on numerous terrorism investigations involving al Qaeda, Hamas, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and the IRA. As Chief of the Organized Crime and Terrorism Unit from 2001 until 2004, he was part of the team of prosecutors who convicted four of Usama Bin Laden's followers for their role in the August 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. He also participated in the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui who recently pled guilty to being part of several conspiracies that involved the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Judge Karas has been the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award and the John Marshall Award from the Justice Department, and the Agency Seal Medallion from the Central Intelligence Agency for his work on national security matters.

In addition, today's criminal lawyers must understand the possibilities and limitations of forensic evidence and technology in criminal investigations. The Short Courses will also feature a comprehensive look at recent forensic developments. Experts will present sessions on DNA analysis, forensic pathology, crime scene investigation, gunshot residue and fingerprint analysis, and computer forensics. A roundtable session will address today's emerging issues in the admissibility and reliability of forensic evidence, allowing participants and experts a forum for discussion.

Established in 1936, the Short Course for Prosecuting Attorneys is the oldest continuing legal education program in the country. The course was founded to enable members of the prosecution bar to learn about scientific crime detection and trial techniques and to permit an exchange of information and viewpoints. The Short Course for Defense Lawyers in Criminal Cases was created in 1958 to provide the defense bar with the same opportunities for advanced education and professional interaction.

Tuition for the course is $750. For full program details or to request a program brochure, call (312) 503-8932 or visit www.law.northwestern.edu/professionaled.

Northwestern Law's Professional Education department sponsors numerous continuing legal education programs designed to provide attorneys, both firm and in-house, with information and solutions to the complex questions that confront the legal community today. More information can be found at www.law.northwestern.edu/professionaled.

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