Victims’ Rights Highlights: Learning from the Nation’s Leading Practitioners
What does it really take to assert victims’ rights effectively in court? How do you advocate boldly without jeopardizing key relationships? And what strategies—both immediate and long-term—actually move the needle in a jurisdiction? In this dynamic, virtual 90-minute free program, National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) Executive Director Meg Garvin will lead an in-depth, candid conversation with five of the most accomplished victims’ rights attorneys in the country. These trailblazers have shaped case law, navigated high-stakes litigation, and transformed courtroom practice—and they’re ready to share what they’ve learned.
You’ll gain:
- Proven courtroom strategies for asserting victims’ rights with confidence
- Insight into navigating pushback while preserving credibility and relationships
- Lessons learned from missteps, setbacks, and hard-fought victories
- Practical guidance you can apply immediately in your own cases
This is more than a panel—it’s an opportunity to learn directly from those who have defined the field. This Crime Victims’ Rights Week join us to sharpen your advocacy, strengthen your strategy, and elevate your impact for victims nationwide.
Facilitator: Meg Garvin, National Crime Victim Law Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School
Speakers:
Colleen Clase, Arizona Voice for Crime Victims
Colleen Clase, J.D.; LL.M., is Chief Counsel with Arizona Voice for Crime Victims in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Clase has been counsel of record for victims of crime in both state and federal prosecutions, many of which are homicide and sexual assault cases that involve child-victims, and has successfully litigated issues related to protecting the constitutional and statutory rights of victims in Arizona’s trial and appellate courts. Additionally, she has spoken in front of legislative committees on various victims’ rights issues, has been a panelist on numerous webinars hosted by the National Crime Victim Law Institute in Portland, Oregon, presented on victims’ rights issues to attendees at the 2017 National Crime Victims’ Rights Law Conference, the 2017 Courthouse Dogs Conference, the 2018 & 2019 Parents of Murdered Children Conferences, the 2018 NOVA Conference, and the 2019 San Diego Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment. Ms. Clase has also served on various task forces and committees including the Arizona Supreme Court’s Commission on Victims in Court, the Arizona Attorney General’s Victims’ Rights Advisory Committee, and the Victims Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission.
Sarah Ford, South Carolina Victim Assistance Network
Sarah A. Ford is the Legal Director at the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN), where she has led a dedicated team of attorneys and advocates since 2017 to provide direct legal services to crime victims across the state. A fierce advocate for trauma-informed legal practice, Sarah brings nearly two decades of experience as a prosecutor, public defender, and victims’ rights attorney to her work. Sarah is also the Co-Founder of the Ford & Ford Group, a government relations and consulting firm, where Sarah trains and consults with law firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations on trauma-informed practice and victim-centered advocacy. A lifelong South Carolinian, Sarah holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Columbia College and earned her J.D. from Charleston School of Law, where she served as President of Women in Law and a member of the Moot Court Board. She began her legal career as an assistant public defender before spending eight years as a prosecutor focused on crimes against women and children. Deeply rooted in community service, Sarah is the Past President of the Junior Service League of Orangeburg and an active member of Catch the Vision International’s Haiti mission team. She is also a Riley Fellow through The Riley Institute at Furman University, a recipient of The State Newspaper’s 20 Under 40 award and is regularly called upon as a speaker, trainer, and media commentator on victims’ rights and trauma-informed legal systems in South Carolina and beyond. In addition to her legal work, Sarah has taught as an adjunct professor at several colleges and universities, and serves on several state and national advisory boards, including the National Rural Justice Collaborative, the South Carolina Restitution Taskforce, and the National Crime Victim Law Institute’s Criminal Justice Training Advisory Committee.
Kazi Houston, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
Kazi Houston, MSW, JD (she/her) is the Legal Director at Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center (RMvlc), a nonprofit law firm providing free legal services to crime victims in Colorado. Kazi obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver in 2010 and was admitted to the Colorado bar that same year. Prior to that, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Seattle University in 1998, and her Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Denver in 2001. Before attending law school, Kazi worked extensively with children and families managing mental illness and/or developmental disabilities, particularly those involved with the criminal justice system. After law school, Kazi worked for 4 years as a private practice civil attorney, then returned to the non-profit sector in 2015. A commitment to improving community access to the legal system and engaging in innovative legal work led Kazi to RMvlc in 2016. Kazi has presented at multiple statewide and national conferences on victim legal issues. Kazi has also served as the victim representative on the Prison Population Management Interim Study Committee in 2019, on the CCJJ Sentencing Reform Task Force and the CBI Identity Theft and Fraud Board. In addition to representing crime victims across Colorado, Kazi has also submitted numerous amicus curiae briefs on victim legal issues in Colorado appellate cases.
Emily La Brecque, Oregon Crime Victim Law Center
Emily La Brecque, JD, is the Executive Director of the Oregon Crime Victim Law Center (OCVLC). Ms. La Brecque has committed her legal career to the zealous representation of victims of violent crime. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno, and attended Lewis and Clark College of Law. Following law school, Emily worked as a Deputy District Attorney, where her focus included domestic violence cases and juvenile dependency cases, and as a Staff Attorney at the Oregon Law Center, where she focused on family law cases involving domestic violence. Emily joined the Oregon Crime Victims Law Center in 2017, where she uses her background as a prosecutor and a family law attorney to assist victims in asserting their rights, protecting their privacy, and maintaining their dignity as they navigate the criminal justice system.
Elizabeth Well, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
Elizabeth Well is the Legal Director at Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center. In her time with Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, Elizabeth has provided assistance to hundreds of crime victims, litigating their rights in trial courts, appellate courts, and the Ohio Supreme Court, provided training to thousands of criminal justice system officials and allied professionals throughout the state and nation on victims’ rights in Ohio, and participated in the Marsy’s Law constitutional amendment campaign, including a leading role in drafting the amendment’s implementing legislation, House Bill 343.
CLE Accreditation:
An application will be submitted to the Oregon State Bar for 1.5 General CLE credits. The training may be eligible for CLE credit in other states; a certificate of attendance will be available after the program.