Pickett Completes Basic Litigation Trainging
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia (PAC) presented its Annual Basic Litigation Training Course from June 23-29, 2007 in Forsyth, Georgia at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC). Fifty-three newly hired prosecutors from across the state participated in an intensive six-day seminar. The course is devoted to in-depth lecture sessions as well as workshops that give prosecutors with little or no courtroom experience an opportunity to hone their skills.
Ann Pickett, Assistant District Attorney of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, completed this year's training. She has been an assistant district attorney for 10 months. Pickett graduated from Griffin High School 1991 and the University of Georgia in 1995. She graduated from the Georgia State University College of Law in 1998.
"After several years in private practice, I became executive counsel at the Secretary of State's Office in Atlanta, a position I held for four years," said Pickett. "Over the years, several friends including Bob Keller, former District Attorney for Clayton County, and Ken Hodges, District Attorney, Dougherty County, encouraged me to think about prosecution. Although I was living in Atlanta at the time, I continued to follow what my hometown District Attorney, Cathy Helms, was doing for local citizens and victims of crime in the Alapaha Circuit. I decided that the time was right to make a career move that would allow me to join a great team and that would enable me to be closer to family," said Pickett.
At the Basic Litigation Course, students are taught by seasoned prosecutors who serve as faculty members and use their years of experience to train and educate the less experienced prosecutors. Faculty members place a significant emphasis on the development of "Theory" and "Theme" based prosecution. And, with a faculty to student ratio of nearly 1-to-1, the Basic Litigation Course conducted in Georgia continues to be one of the most effective courses of its kind.
During the week-long training, students attended lectures and workshops on legal subjects such as: opening statements, direct examination, introduction of evidence, use of demonstrative aids, cross examination and impeachment, hearsay, motions, similar transactions and character evidence, expert witness, and closing arguments.
"Some of the activities that I participated in were examining witnesses and trial techniques," said Pickett. "This course was a refresher in those skills and hopefully my experience will allow me to make sure the jurors hear all the evidence they need to make a decision."
The course culminated in a mock trial conducted in front of a volunteer jury. "During a jury trial, after the jurors are picked, the basic process is that the State makes an opening statement which is followed by the defense's opening statement," said Pickett. "Next, the state makes its case through direct examination, evidence and demonstrative aids. The defense is given an opportunity to cross examine the state's witnesses. After the state rests, the defense conducts its own direct examination of its witnesses. The state has an opportunity to cross-examine the defense's witnesses. The defense makes a closing statement and then the state gets the final closing argument."
"It was a rigorous week; however, I am more confident as a result of this training," said Pickett. "The intensive week of trial preparation will allow me to walk into the courtroom, ready at a moment's notice, to bring forward the cases that require the attention of justice. I have several bench trials to schedule with opposing counsel and I can't wait to showcase my improved and polished skills," said Pickett.
The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia presents its Basic Litigation Training Course to new prosecutors every June.
