?? Autism in Court: Why the Legal System Needs a Neurodiverse Lens Imagine being in a courtroom where everything—the lights, the sounds, the rapid questioning—feels like an unbearable sensory overload. This is the reality for many autistic individuals facing trial. ?? The legal system assumes every defendant understands court proceedings, body language, and verbal nuances. But for individuals on the spectrum, these expectations are unrealistic and harmful. ?? Simple adjustments—like sensory accommodations, expert testimony, and modified questioning techniques—can make the difference between justice served and a miscarriage of justice. ?? It’s time to integrate neurodiversity into legal defense strategies. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eejuEtje
Elizabeth Kelley Law
律师事务所
New York，NY 124 位关注者
A Criminal Defense Lawyer With A Nationwide Practice Focused On Representing People With Mental Disabilities.
关于我们
Elizabeth Kelley is a criminal defense lawyer with a nationwide practice focused on representing people with mental disabilities. She is the editor of Representing People with Mental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers (2018), Representing People on the Autism Spectrum: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers (2020), and Representing People with Dementia, a Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers (2022), all published by The American Bar Association (ABA). Elizabeth was appointed Editor of the ABA’s annual publication, The State of Criminal Justice. Elizabeth serves as a Vice Chair of the ABA’s Criminal Justice Section Council and on the Editorial Board of Criminal Justice Section Magazine. She was named an ABA Fellow, and co-chaired the Criminal Justice Advisory Panel of The Arc’s National Center for Criminal Justice and Disability and the ABA’s Commission on Disability Rights. Elizabeth serves on the Advisory Board of The Neuroscience Center of Fordham University School of Law. Elizabeth served three terms on the board of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), chaired its Mental Health as well as Membership Committees, and is a Life Member. She traveled to Liberia in 2009 and 2014 as part of a delegation sponsored by the U.N. Commission on Drugs and Crime and NACDL to train that country’s criminal defense bar. Elizabeth lectures across the U.S. as well as abroad on representing people with mental disabilities. Elizabeth completed her 200 hour Yoga certification through Harmony Yoga in Spokane and her 500 hour certification through Semperviva Studios in Vancouver, B.C.. She has hiked La Camino del Norte and is always seeking further adventure. Elizabeth is licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the Sixth and Ninth Circuits, the Northern District of Ohio, the State of Ohio, and has been admitted pro hac vice in numerous states and federal courts.
- 网站
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https://www.elizabethkelleylaw.com/
Elizabeth Kelley Law的外部链接
- 所属行业
- 律师事务所
- 规模
- 2-10 人
- 总部
- New York，NY
- 类型
- 自有
地点
Elizabeth Kelley Law员工
动态
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?? Autism & Interrogations: The Hidden Risk of False Confessions Why do individuals with autism have a higher rate of false confessions? The answer lies in their unique communication challenges and heightened vulnerability under stress. ?? Many autistic individuals are highly compliant and eager to please authority figures. This can lead them to agree with statements they don’t fully understand, just to end a stressful situation. ?? Law enforcement must be trained to recognize when a suspect’s responses are influenced by their neurodivergence. Without proper safeguards, interrogations become coercive, leading to unjust convictions. ?? Every attorney handling an autistic client should ensure that interviews are conducted with professional oversight, minimizing risks of manipulation. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eejuEtje
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?? Dementia & Criminal Liability: When Memory Fails, Should Justice Be Blind? Imagine being accused of a crime you don’t remember committing. For individuals with dementia, this is a terrifying reality. Cognitive decline impacts judgment, impulse control, and memory, yet the legal system often treats these cases as if the accused had full awareness of their actions. ?? People with dementia may unknowingly trespass, engage in aggressive behavior, or take items without realizing. Instead of legal intervention, these cases require medical and psychological evaluations. ?? Criminal defense attorneys must fight for alternative solutions—diversion programs, medical treatment, and care placement rather than incarceration. ?? Justice must be compassionate, not punitive. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZ262fSk
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?? National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month ?? Justice for All: Recognizing Developmental Disabilities in the Legal System March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the importance of inclusion, advocacy, and legal protections for individuals with developmental disabilities. ?? The Legal Challenge: Many individuals with developmental disabilities face unique hurdles in the justice system, from misinterpretation of behavior to a lack of appropriate legal representation. A system built for neurotypical individuals often fails to accommodate the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). ?? What Needs to Change? ?? Law enforcement training on interacting with individuals with developmental disabilities ?? Increased use of forensic mental health professionals in legal cases ?? Advocacy for alternative sentencing, diversion programs, and support services Legal rights should be accessible to everyone—regardless of cognitive ability. Let’s push for a justice system that truly serves all. ?? Learn more about advocating for individuals with disabilities in the legal system: www.elizabethkelleylaw.com #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwareness #JusticeForAll #CriminalDefense #IDDAdvocacy #InclusionMatters
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?? Book Talk with Elizabeth Kelley is Tomorrow! ??RSVP by emailing: [email protected] ?? The Federal Bar Association Southern District of New York is thrilled to invite you to a book talk with Elizabeth Kelley: author of Representing People with Mental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers (Second Edition) ?? Elizabeth will be joined by chapter authors: Richard Levitt, Dr. Jemour Maddux, Psy.D., ABPP, and Dr. Carol J. Weiss. The panelists will provide their unique insight into the complex, challenging world of providing legal representation to individuals with mental disabilities. Federal Bar Association SDNY Chapter thanks Saul Ewing LLP for hosting the event, and Women's White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA), New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL), Irish American Bar Association of New York, and American Bar Association Fellows for their sponsorship of the book talk. ?For questions, please go to: https://lnkd.in/eubzbhw9 #booktalk #federalbarassociation #mentalhealth #defenseattorney #criminaljustice #americanbarassociation
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?? Book Talk with Elizabeth Kelley ?? ??RSVP by emailing: [email protected] ?? The Federal Bar Association Southern District of New York is thrilled to invite you to a book talk with Elizabeth Kelley: author of Representing People with Mental Disabilities: A Practical Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers (Second Edition) ?? Elizabeth will be joined by chapter authors: Richard Levitt, Dr. Jemour Maddux, Psy.D., ABPP, and Dr. Carol J. Weiss. The panelists will provide their unique insight into the complex, challenging world of providing legal representation to individuals with mental disabilities. Federal Bar Association SDNY Chapter thanks Saul Ewing LLP for hosting the event, and Women's White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA), New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NYSACDL), Irish American Bar Association of New York, and American Bar Association Fellows for their sponsorship of the book talk. ?For questions, please go to: https://lnkd.in/eubzbhw9 #booktalk?#federalbarassociation?#mentalhealth #defenseattorney?#criminaljustice?#americanbarassociation
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?? Autism & the Law: A Justice System That Doesn’t Understand Neurodiversity The criminal justice system is designed with a one-size-fits-all approach—but what happens when that framework fails individuals with autism? From misinterpreted behaviors to high rates of false confessions, autistic individuals often face harsher legal consequences simply because their condition isn’t understood. ?? Many with autism struggle with sensory overload, anxiety, and difficulty understanding social norms. When law enforcement lacks proper training, interactions can escalate needlessly, leading to wrongful arrests or forced confessions. ?? Attorneys must advocate for accommodations, ensuring neurodiverse clients receive fair representation. This includes forensic evaluations, expert testimony, and a deep understanding of how autism impacts legal proceedings. ?? It’s time for a legal system that recognizes neurodiversity. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eejuEtje
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?? Autism & the Law: A Justice System That Doesn’t Understand Neurodiversity The criminal justice system is designed with a one-size-fits-all approach—but what happens when that framework fails individuals with autism? From misinterpreted behaviors to high rates of false confessions, autistic individuals often face harsher legal consequences simply because their condition isn’t understood. ?? Many with autism struggle with sensory overload, anxiety, and difficulty understanding social norms. When law enforcement lacks proper training, interactions can escalate needlessly, leading to wrongful arrests or forced confessions. ?? Attorneys must advocate for accommodations, ensuring neurodiverse clients receive fair representation. This includes forensic evaluations, expert testimony, and a deep understanding of how autism impacts legal proceedings. ?? It’s time for a legal system that recognizes neurodiversity. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eejuEtje
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Elizabeth?Kelley?to Deliver Keynote at the Inaugural Access to Justice Symposium! Exciting news!?Elizabeth?Kelley?will be the keynote speaker at the?Access to Justice Symposium, where legal and mental health experts will come together to explore how the justice system can better serve individuals with invisible disabilities. From courtroom strategies to ethical considerations and policy reforms, this symposium will dive deep into the complexities of managing, treating, and sentencing individuals with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric conditions. With thought-provoking discussions featuring?senior judges, forensic psychiatrists, and defense advocates, this event is a must-attend for anyone passionate about making justice more equitable. Let’s keep the conversation going and push for meaningful change! --Register here:?https://lnkd.in/gYDPBgaX #AccessToJustice #ElizabethKelley #CriminalDefense #LegalReform #InvisibleDisabilities #NeurodiversityInLaw #JusticeForAll #PBSG Pro Bono SG
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Exciting Announcement! Elizabeth?Kelley?is honored to be a featured speaker at?Stetson’s White Collar Criminal Defense Training Program 2025, an immersive, hands-on training event designed for practitioners at all experience levels. ?-March 21, 2025 ?-Gulfport, FL Hosted by?Stetson University, in collaboration with the?Criminal Justice Section-ABA and the?Women's White Collar Defense Association (WWCDA), this program provides invaluable insights into white-collar defense, from investigation to sentencing. ?Key Takeaways: ?-Learn from experienced trial attorneys on white-collar defense strategies ?-Engage in a realistic case study, from investigation to trial ?-Gain insights on cross-examinations, client retention, ethics, and sentencing ?-Participate in interactive sessions with real-time feedback from top practitioners The program will conclude with a distinguished dinner, featuring the presentation of the?White Collar Defense Award, honoring outstanding advocacy in the field. This is a must-attend event for both new attorneys looking to deepen their knowledge and seasoned litigators expanding into white-collar defense. Learn more:? https://lnkd.in/ePHSddKh ? #WhiteCollarDefense #LegalTraining #ElizabethKelley #CriminalDefense #StetsonLaw #WWCDA #ABAJustice #LegalEducation
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