ODW24C39 – Use of Force: Contemporary Case Studies

Description: This session reviews current Supreme Court precedent in Fourth and Eighth Amendment use of force cases, with studies of recent, high profile, excessive force cases, including the Rodney King and George Floyd decisions.  Discussions will break down opposing arguments of prosecution and defense, examine the application of civil rights statutes to fact sets, and examine the Court’s application of precedent to the controversy in each case.  Emphasis will be placed on the paralegal’s attention to “make-or-break” details during client intake, document review, and trial preparation.

Course Year: 2024

Presenter Biography: Joseph Koenig is a retired special agent turned paralegal who spent more than two decades investigating federal and state crimes. He served as a state trooper, patrol supervisor, kennel master, and SWAT member, making real-time use-of-force decisions daily. He has a BS and a Master of Criminal Justice. He received several awards for his work in law enforcement. After retiring from that field, Joseph worked as an asset forfeiture paralegal and then in legal compliance, policy, and use of force review for a state agency. He now works with attorneys and legislative auditors, assessing the performance of state government agencies.