# 011683

Frozen in Time: The McMartin Trial and Its Implications for the Use of Children's Testimony in Criminal, Civil, and Family Law Trials

The Senior Lawyers Section will present another program in its "Frozen in Time" series that will explore the legacy of the McMartin Trial and the role of child witnesses.

This program has special relevancy in today's legal practice. It will focus on how the role of children as witnesses has changed since the 1980s when the McMartin criminal trial involving alleged child abuse riveted Los Angeles and the nation. In the intervening years, the rules governing testimony of child witnesses have evolved and today they impact the entire scope of the justice system, from civil and criminal to family law and juvenile cases.

The panelists will include Judge William Pounders who presided over the trial and Lael Rubin, the deputy district attorney who prosecuted the cases. Former Los Angeles County Bar Association President and well-known family law practitioner Patricia Phillips will moderate the discussion.

NOTE: LACBA members who are at least 55 years of age or who have been in practice for a minimum of 25 years are eligible for membership in the Senior Lawyers Section. If you meet these eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to register at a special price of $95 which includes membership in the Senior Lawyers Section.