Product Description

In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Counterman v. Colorado, overturning a stalking conviction based on hundreds of Facebook messages sent by the defendant to a local female musician. The Colorado stalking statute mandated an objective test for whether communications were threatening, penalizing those that would cause “a reasonable person to suffer serious emotional distress.” The Supreme Court concluded that constitutional protections for free speech required something more, namely that the government prove the defendant’s subjective intent to threaten. Specifically, the Court held that the government must prove at least a mental state of “recklessness” in order to obtain a criminal conviction based on speech. The ruling represented a shift in the law about “true threats,” a long-standing exception to First Amendment protections.

Join our instructors as they dive into the details of the decision and explore its implications for both First Amendment jurisprudence and practical issues in criminal and civil law.

Agenda & Materials

• 9:00- 9:30

  State of the Probate and Family Court:

  Hear from Chief Justice Angela Ordoñez about what’s happening at the Probate and Family Court.

  Chichi Lee, Esq., Middlesex District Attorney's Office , Woburn
  Hon. Angela M. Ordoñez,
  
• 3:45pm-3:55pm

  Counterman v. Colorado: Future Directions for Caselaw

  on demand video Add to Cart
• 9:30-10:15

  Case Law and Legislative Update 2018:

  In this fast-paced session, the faculty reviews the most significant court decisions of the past year, explains how they impact your practice, and discusses emerging issues in family law practice and procedure.

  Kate M. Amato, Esq., Robinson Donovan, PC , Springfield
  Elaine M. O'Donnell, Esq., Law Office of Thomas Kenefick III, PC , Springfield
  Alexandra S. Flanders, Esq., Franklin Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Greenfield
  
• 10:15-10:25

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 10:25-11:15

  Retirement/Deferred Comp/Social Security:

  Alimony term limits make retirement assets an important focus of any divorce. Learn how to identify the type of retirement assets in your case, understand the benefits provided, navigate through social security rules, and get strategy tips for trial.

  Hon. Barbara M. Hyland, Hampden Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Springfield
  Kathleen A. O'Malley, Esq., Raipher, PC , Springfield
  Marianne G. Zurn, Esq.,
  Matthew Reid Fisher, Esq., , Worcester
  Hon. Linda S. Fidnick,
  Hon. Richard A. Simons, Berkshire Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Pittsfield
  Diane M. DeGiacomo, Esq., Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP , Lenox
  Leslie McLellan Brown, Esq., , South Hadley
  Thomas A. Kenefick, III, Esq., Law Offices of Thomas A. Kenefick III, PC , Springfield
  Carla W. Newton, Esq.,
  
• 11:15-12:00

  You Be the Judge: Alimony/Child Support/College:

  Observe local practitioners present arguments/responses for support orders based on sophisticated fact patterns, respond to judge’s questions, with attendees weighing in on decision.

  Hon. Linda S. Fidnick,
  Hon. Richard A. Simons, Berkshire Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Pittsfield
  Diane M. DeGiacomo, Esq., Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP , Lenox
  Leslie McLellan Brown, Esq., , South Hadley
  Thomas A. Kenefick, III, Esq., Law Offices of Thomas A. Kenefick III, PC , Springfield
  Carla W. Newton, Esq.,
  
• 11:15-12:00

  You Be the Judge: Alimony/Child Support/College:

  Observe local practitioners present arguments/responses for support orders based on sophisticated fact patterns, respond to judge’s questions, with attendees weighing in on decision.

  Hon. Linda S. Fidnick,
  Hon. Richard A. Simons, Berkshire Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Pittsfield
  Diane M. DeGiacomo, Esq., Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP , Lenox
  Leslie McLellan Brown, Esq., , South Hadley
  Thomas A. Kenefick, III, Esq., Law Offices of Thomas A. Kenefick III, PC , Springfield
  Carla W. Newton, Esq.,
  
• 12:00-1:00

  Lunch (on your own)
• 1:00- 1:30

  Decisions on You Be the Judge - continued

  Hon. Linda S. Fidnick,
  Diane M. DeGiacomo, Esq., Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas LLP , Lenox
  Leslie McLellan Brown, Esq., , South Hadley
  Thomas A. Kenefick, III, Esq., Law Offices of Thomas A. Kenefick III, PC , Springfield
  Carla W. Newton, Esq.,
  
• 1:30-2:25

  Jurisdiction—Subject Matter/Personal:

  Learn how to identify jurisdictional issues and gain an understanding of the many areas where jurisdiction can impact your clients, now and in the future.

  Stephanie A. Fitzgerald, Esq., Fitzgerald Family Law , East Longmeadow
  Andrew Y. Cheng, Esq., , Braintree
  Sara E. McCollum, Esq.,
  
• 2:25-2:35

  Networking and Refreshment Break
• 2:35-3:30

  Mediation/Arbitration/Conciliation/Master:

  Tips from the pros—what will work best for your case, when to bring in the neutral, how to prepare, and what to expect.

  Oran E. Kaufman, Esq., Western New England University School of Law , Springfield
  Jennifer A. Thorn, Esq., Family Law of Western Massachusetts, P.C. , East Longmeadow
  James M. Smith, Esq., Law Office of James M. Smith , Springfield
  
• 3:30-4:00

  Lobby Conference:

  An informed discussion plus a question and answer session with members of the judiciary on the family law issues affecting your practice.

  Hon. Beth A. Crawford,
  Hon. Barbara M. Hyland, Hampden Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Springfield
  Hon. Linda S. Fidnick,
  Hon. Richard A. Simons, Berkshire Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Pittsfield
  ,
  Hon. David J. Dacyczyn, Hampshire Probate and Family Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts , Northampton
  

Faculty