human Trafficking
how State v. Kizer moved the needle,
what’s left to be done,
and what women lawyers and judges can do about it
approved for 2.0 CLE credits
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In August 2024, Chrystul Kizer was sentenced to 11 years in prison and 5 years supervision for the death of her trafficker when she was 17 years old, in spite of the groundbreaking victory in State v. Kizer which allowed an affirmative defense to homicide by a human trafficking victim. How and why did this happen?
Our panel will discuss the legal aspects of the powerful affirmative defense precedent, current cases that might have different outcomes, decriminalization of victims, race, gender and class headwinds and other major challenges.
This panel features Chrystul’s lead attorney, State Public Defender Jennifer Bias, appellate attorney Katie York, Detective Dawn Jones, an internationally respected expert for training law enforcement in trafficking investigations, and survivor-advocate and author April Bentley, founder and CEO of Rubies youth advocacy organization to address what needs to change. Moderated by Rachel Monaco, founder of LOTUS Legal Clinic, the discussion will be powerful, challenging, and inspiring.
APRIL BENTLEY is a resilient leader, author, and founder of R.U.B.I.E.S. Corporation, a non-profit empowering at-risk youth and survivors of exploitation. A survivor of child sex trafficking, April overcame nearly two decades of addiction and exploitation to create an organization dedicated to preventing the commercial sexual exploitation of children and fostering self-worth, resilience, and community support. Her book, Don’t Rush to Get Old, and her song, I’m Free, reflect her journey of triumph and liberation. Above all, April cherishes her role as a mother. She continues to lead with unwavering determination, transforming lives and communities through her work and story.
JENNIFER BIAS joined the Wisconsin State Public Defender's office in 1987 after receiving her degree at the University of Iowa Law School. In 2024, she was selected by the State Public Defender Board to lead the OSPD. She received gubernatorial appointments to the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board, the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission, the Commission to Reduce Racial Disparity in the Wisconsin Criminal Justice System and the subsequent Oversight Commission, and the Governor's Task Force on Racial Profiling. In recognition of her commitment to community service, Jennifer received the Racine Journal Times Award; the Racine Interfaith Coalition Freedom Award; NAACP Attorney Ted Harris Award; and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award. Jennifer was named a Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal and was awarded the Kutak-Dodds Prize by the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
DAWN JONES has been working in anti-human trafficking efforts since 2007. She was a lead investigator on Wisconsin’s first sex trafficking investigation, has testified as a subject matter expert regarding sex trafficking, and has presented on the topic nationally and internationally. She was a federally deputized task force officer for the Eastern District of Wisconsin and a member of the Eastern District Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, where she led human trafficking investigations. Dawn was the senior project manager for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, where she provided technical assistance and training for 51 enhanced collaborative model anti-human trafficking task forces throughout the United States. She promotes a victim-centered trauma-informed approach to investigations as well as collaboration with community members and survivors.
Lawyer, teacher, artist, and philanthropist RACHEL K. MONACO, JD has practiced law and taught in the U.S. for over 20 years, working with trafficked persons, victims of sensitive crimes, and individuals with disabilities, as well as owning a private practice in estate planning. She started and runs the Wyldfire Foundation and advises nonprofits. Recipient of numerous awards, she is known for innovative survivor-empowerment work to combine creative writing and art therapy with trauma-informed lawyering. She is the founder of LOTUS (Legal Options for Trafficked and Underserved Survivors) Legal Clinic in Milwaukee. Rachel enjoys world travel, ultrarunning, and breeding Hungarian Vizslas. She divides her time between a small farm north of Milwaukee and a cabin on the south shore of Lake Superior.
KATIE YORK is the Deputy State Public Defender for the Wisconsin State Public Defender (SPD). Katie has had many roles at the SPD, including as a staff trial attorney, a staff appellate attorney, a Local Attorney Manager, Deputy Trial Division Director, and Appellate Division Director. She has handled most SPD case types as both a trial attorney and an appellate attorney, litigating in circuit courts around the state, all four Court of Appeals districts, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Katie was on the State Bar Board of Governors from 2017-2021. She has served as the SPD representative on the Judicial Council’s Appellate Procedure Committee and is an advisory member on the Criminal Jury Instruction Committee. Katie has presented on a variety of topics for SPD staff and private bar attorneys. She has also presented to members of the judiciary about Chapter 51 (mental health commitment) litigation and as a faculty member for the Digital Evidence Bootcamp.
Proceeds from this event benefit the AWL Foundation’s Shirley S. Abrahamson scholarship fund. Criteria for the scholarship include demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity, commitment to issues affecting women and/or children in the community, and commitment to public service.
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