We will cover pre-election litigation regarding issues like ballot designations for candidates, whether impartial analyses or ballot arguments involving initiatives or referenda are false or misleading, and pre-ballot challenges to the validity of a ballot measure. We will discuss election contests, which occur after votes have been counted and one side alleges that enough illegal votes were counted to change the outcome of the election. We will also cover libel suits over campaign materials and enforcement actions brought by the Fair Political Practices Commission or local ethics commissions regarding reporting requirements. Finally, we will touch on issues involving redistricting at the state and local level

Appeals can be complicated. Ethical issues surrounding appellate practice can be too. This panel will discuss the most important ethical issues faced by attorneys who handle appeals.

This program discusses 14 of the most common trial mistakes that can result in waiver, forfeiture, or other loss of arguments on appeal, such as failing to move to strike inadmissible evidence, forgetting to secure all relevant transcripts, and using an improper verdict form. The program provides background on each potential mistake and analysis of how best to avoid them in trial practice. This guidance on how to ensure the best chance at appeal is relevant to the practice of nearly any trial or appellate lawyer. The presenters are appellate practitioners with significant experience in appellate practice and the identification of trial waivers/forfeitures.