When: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Social Law Library, Boston, MA
Program Fee: $25

CPCS approved for 2.0 hours of credit from the Adult Criminal Trial, CAFL, Mental Health, YAD juvenile delinquency, YO and Post-Conviction panels.

Determining legislative intent is a critical component whenever interpreting Massachusetts statutory law, especially when a statute is ambiguous and susceptible to various interpretations, does not adequately address a particular issue, or when there appear to be drafting errors.

In these and other instances, the legislature’s intent must be inferred from the statute’s legislative history, which successful advocates must stitch together from a variety of sources including, but not limited to:

• The text of the bill and proposed amendments that were accepted or rejected
• Reports of Legislative Committees and other House and Senate documents, as well as speeches or floor debates prior to the bill’s passage
• Executive Branch messages and related statements that might shed light on the legislative intent

SJC Chief Staff Counsel, Neal Quenzer and the Social Law Library’s Senior Reference Librarian, Brian Harkins, will show “how” and “where” to find and interpret these and other sources from which legislative intent can be deduced. The program will feature both traditional hard copy and new online resoources.

Successful advocacy often depends on using the research skills that this program will teach to reconstruct a statute’s legislative history, and artfully arguing for the correct legislative intent in pleadings, briefs, and oral argument.

Online registration is encouraged. For assistance, questions on group discounts, accommodations requests, special billing, program content, out-of-state CLE credits, and general CLE information contact Michael Saporito at 617-226-1343 or msaporito@socialaw.com. Space is limited. Registrations accepted in order of receipt. Same day registrations are $5.00 extra. Registration fees are non-refundable. Registrants for this program acknowledge that during the program their photographic or videographic images may be incidentally taken; registrants agree that the submission of their registrations for this program constitutes their written consent to the Social Law Library’s use of any such image in print and online materials solely for promotion of the Library’s noncommercial CLE seminars and other educational events and activities.