Join us to hear from legal experts Michael G. Freedman, Laurie L. Levenson, and Eric Siddall on a panel moderated by Mari Henderson as they discuss the new laws and initiatives in California — and Los Angeles — aimed at reforming the criminal justice system. Our speakers will address these new legislative reforms and their future impact on Californians, Angelenos, and legal proceedings. This event is approved for MCLE General Education credit by the State Bar of California.
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If you have any questions regarding how to join this virtual experience, please contact Leah Phillips at LPhillips@JewishLA.org.
Michael G. Freedman is a criminal defense attorney and partner at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP. He is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney who represents individuals and companies against all types of criminal charges and government investigations and in high-stakes civil litigation and appeals. He represents clients in state and federal court and has particular expertise in white collar fraud, healthcare matters, the cannabis industry, money laundering, environmental regulation, and asset forfeiture proceedings. As an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California, he was lead or co-lead counsel in eight trials, nearly a dozen appeals, and countless investigations.
Michael began his career as a law clerk on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He received his J.D. from UC Hastings, a master’s in Middle Eastern Studies from Harvard University, and his bachelor’s from UC San Diego. He currently serves as National Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section’s White Collar Crime Committee, is an alumnus of The Jewish Federation’s Rautenberg New Leaders Project, and is actively involved in a variety of legal and community organizations.
Laurie L. Levenson is a Professor of Law and David W. Burcham Chair in Ethical Advocacy at Loyola Law School. She is also the founder of Loyola’s Project for the Innocent. Professor Levenson teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, ethics, trial advocacy, and evidence and has authored numerous books and articles on criminal law. She is also the author of Judaism and Criminal Justice (Oxford Handbook of Jewish Ethics and Morality 2011) and Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices — Death Penalty (JPS 2010). Professor Levenson served for eight years as a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles and as Associate Dean of Loyola Law School from 1986-1989. Professor Levenson regularly provides commentary for high-profile trials and legal matters. She has appeared on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, and international broadcasts.
Professor Levenson received her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and her A.B. from Stanford University. She was Chief Articles Editor of the UCLA Law Review and clerked after law school for the Honorable James Hunter III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Professor Levenson is an active member of the Los Angeles Jewish community. She has served on the Board of Directors for Bet Tzedek Legal Services and Los Angeles Hillel Council. She is an active member of Sinai Temple. Professor Levenson is married to Douglas Mirell, Esq. with whom she sharest three children.
Eric Siddall is Vice President of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys and is a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney. He is also designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California. He is assigned to the Crimes Against Peace Officers Division. His past assignments include prosecuting gang homicides, domestic violence and sex crimes, including crimes against children. He has tried over 80 jury trials. He has written extensively on California criminal justice issues. He has trained prosecutors and police officers through programs directed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Department of Justice. Aside from being a prosecutor, he serves on the board of the Galileo Foundation, an organization focused on supporting the work of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Science. He received his juris doctorate from Fordham University School of Law School. He studied philosophy at Boston College.
Mari Henderson is an associate in Quinn Emanuel’s Los Angeles office. She rejoined the firm in 2020. With a background as a criminal prosecutor and on-air news reporter, Mari represents companies and individuals in high stakes litigation and advises clients navigating both the court of law and the court of public opinion. She helped launch the firm’s Crisis Law and Strategy practice group, which provides legal and public relations assistance to companies and individuals facing scandals in the public eye.
She has defended major California companies including Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) and the University of Southern California (USC) in cases ranging from employment discrimination to lawsuits stemming from one of the largest wildfires in California history. She has also defended C-suite executives in white collar federal cases, state criminal cases and civil sexual assault and discrimination cases. In addition to litigation, Mari has experience conducting internal investigations into abuse and harassment claims, where she relies on her background as a sex crimes prosecutor.
Prior to rejoining Quinn Emanuel, Mari was a Deputy District Attorney at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, where as lead counsel she tried nearly twenty cases to verdict. While she was a Deputy DA, she earned a reputation as the “expert slayer” for her successful cross-examination of defense experts on the witness stand. She handled a broad range of felonies, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, child molestation, sexual assault, domestic violence, robbery, and burglary cases. She was also tasked with managing criminal cases involving high-profile or celebrity defendants and victims. Mari appeared in court daily, where she conducted over 100 hearings, including preliminary hearings, motions to suppress, motions to vacate, and motions to dismiss.
In law school, Mari clerked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in the Major Crimes division. She also clerked for the California Court of Appeal. Prior to attending law school, Mari was an on-air reporter for NY1 News in New York City.
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