Capital Area Private Defender Service
MAP Lunchtime CLE Presentations 2026
February 24 – Introduction to Mitigation and Obligations of Defense Counsel in Non-Death Penalty Murder Cases with Stacie Lieberman
This hour will focus on why comprehensive mitigation investigations and effective mitigation presentations in murder cases are important and benefit our clients as well as the obligations of defense counsel to conduct thorough investigations.
Stacie Lieberman is the Director of the Mitigation Advancement Program and the Director of Post-Conviction Programs for the Capital Area Private Defender Service. She has nearly 20 years of post-conviction experience, primarily litigating capital habeas petitions on behalf of death-sentenced individuals in multiple states. Stacie has written amicus briefs on due process issues for NACDL, TCDLA, and ACDLA, is a member of the NACDL Task Force on Prosecutorial Accountability, and writes on issues relating to Brady obligations and mitigation. Stacie graduated from American University Washington College of Law magna cum laude and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Stacie's spare time is spent appeasing her rescue tabbies.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xGz6oyhaRYCRjT_EMp1_ng
March 17 – Effective Storytelling with Thea Posel
This hour will focus on using the results of your mitigation investigation to craft a compelling effective defense narrative.
Thea Posel is a clinical assistant professor in the Capital Punishment Clinic at Texas Law and the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Professor Posel has experience with capital defense teams in both Colorado and Texas, from pre-trial litigation preparation and consulting to state and federal post-conviction cases. She works on Texas state court advocacy and consulting at the capital trial, appellate, and habeas stages and her scholarship primarily focuses on jury selection, jury decision-making, and mitigation investigation and presentation. Professor Posel holds both a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__1xBbulsQvuOx0mO8oL29w