True Crime

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Crimes of the Century CLE: The Widow, The Children's Book, and The Murder Charge (Lessons from the Murder Trial of Kouri Richins)

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 3 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 3 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 3 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 3 Total
California CLE Approved 3 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 4 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 3 Total
Delaware CLE Pending 3 Total
Florida CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 3 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 3 Total
Iowa CLE Pending 3 Total
Idaho CLE Pending 3 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 3 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 3 Total
Kansas CLE Pending 3.5 Total
Kentucky CLE Pending 3 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 3 Total
Maine CLE Approved 3 Total
Minnesota CLE Pending 3 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 3.6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 3 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 3 Total
Montana CLE Pending 3 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 3 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 3 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 3 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 3 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 3.6 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 3 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 3 Total
New York CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Ohio CLE Pending 3 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Oregon CLE Pending 3 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 3 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 3.5 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 3 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 3 Total
Texas CLE Approved 3 Total
Utah CLE Approved 3 Total
Virginia CLE Pending 3 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 3 Total
Washington CLE Approved 3 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 3.5 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 3.6 Total
Wyoming CLE Upon Request 3 Total
Live Online
3 hours
Joel Oster
Leighandra Hazlett
With Joel L. Oster from Comedian of Law, LLC + 1 other

Tue, Aug 18, 00:00 AM – 00:00 PM

Product ID 102641

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$299

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Overview

Trial Lessons From the Infamous Case

Kouri Richins is the most unlikely murder suspect. Just months after her husband died from a fatal dose of fentanyl, Utah children's book author Kouri Richins published and promoted a book designed to help children cope with the loss of a parent. The book, inspired by her own family's experience with grief, generated national media attention.

But did she have a hand in generating this experience? Soon afterward, prosecutors charged Richins with murdering her husband. Authorities alleged she administered the fentanyl that caused his death and planned to profit from his untimely demise.

The resulting prosecution has become one of the most closely watched criminal cases in the country, combining allegations of murder, financial motive, digital evidence, family dynamics, and intense media scrutiny. The case presents a fascinating study in how modern prosecutors build a homicide case using electronic communications, internet search history, financial records, and circumstantial evidence - and how defense counsel can challenge those narratives.

This CLE uses the Richins case to examine evidentiary issues, trial strategy, expert witnesses, digital forensics, and pretrial publicity considerations in high-profile criminal cases. Whether you practice criminal law or civil litigation, the legal and strategic lessons emerging from this prosecution offer valuable insight into the realities of trying complex cases in the digital age. 

Register today!

This program is designed in conjunction with attorney Joel Oster, Comedian of Law and True Crime Podcaster.

Abbreviated Agenda

  1. Factual Background
  2. Building the Prosecution’s Case
  3. Defense Strategy and Reasonable Doubt
  4. Evidentiary Battles and Pretrial Litigation
  5. Media Coverage and Jury Selection
  6. Key Moments from Trial
  7. Lessons Learned from the Kouri Richins Trial

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Related Topics

Product ID 102641

Credit Details

Credits Available
Credit Status Total
Alaska CLE Reciprocity 3 Total
Alabama CLE Approved 3 Total
Arkansas CLE Approved 3 Total
Arizona CLE Approved 3 Total
California CLE Approved 3 Total
Colorado CLE Approved 4 Total
Connecticut CLE Approved 3 Total
Delaware CLE Pending 3 Total
Florida CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Georgia CLE Approved 3 Total
Hawaii CLE Approved 3 Total
Iowa CLE Pending 3 Total
Idaho CLE Pending 3 Total
Illinois CLE Approved 3 Total
Indiana CLE Approved 3 Total
Kansas CLE Pending 3.5 Total
Kentucky CLE Pending 3 Total
Louisiana CLE Approved 3 Total
Maine CLE Approved 3 Total
Minnesota CLE Pending 3 Total
Missouri CLE Approved 3.6 Total
Northern Mariana Islands CLE Approved 3 Total
Mississippi CLE Approved 3 Total
Montana CLE Pending 3 Total
North Carolina CLE Approved 3 Total
North Dakota CLE Approved 3 Total
Nebraska CLE Approved 3 Total
New Hampshire CLE Approved 3 Total
New Jersey CLE Approved 3.6 Total
New Mexico CLE Approved 3 Total
Nevada CLE Approved 3 Total
New York CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Ohio CLE Pending 3 Total
Oklahoma CLE Approved 3.5 Total
Oregon CLE Pending 3 Total
Pennsylvania CLE Approved 3 Total
Rhode Island CLE Approved 3.5 Total
South Carolina CLE Approved 3 Total
Tennessee CLE Approved 3 Total
Texas CLE Approved 3 Total
Utah CLE Approved 3 Total
Virginia CLE Pending 3 Total
Vermont CLE Approved 3 Total
Washington CLE Approved 3 Total
Wisconsin CLE Approved 3.5 Total
West Virginia CLE Approved 3.6 Total
Wyoming CLE Upon Request 3 Total
Select Jurisdiction
CLE

Agenda

All times are shown in

  1. Factual Background

    1. Who Were Eric and Kouri Richins?
    2. How Did Eric Richins Die?
    3. Early Investigations and a Stalled Case

  2. Building the Prosecution’s Case

    1. Theory of Motive and Intent
    2. Financial Evidence and Alleged Economic Incentives
    3. Digital Evidence and Electronic Communications
    4. Search Histories and Electronic Records
    5. Circumstantial Evidence in Homicide Prosecutions
    6. Creating a Persuasive Narrative From Disparate Facts

  3. Defense Strategy and Reasonable Doubt

    1. Challenging Motive Evidence
    2. Attacking the Reliability and Interpretation of Digital Evidence
    3. Alternative Explanations and Competing Narratives
    4. Presumption of Innocence in High-Profile Cases
    5. Managing Unfavorable Publicity

  4. Evidentiary Battles and Pretrial Litigation

    1. Admissibility of Electronic Communications
    2. Authentication of Digital Evidence
    3. Hearsay Considerations
    4. Expert Witness Challenges
    5. Rule 403 Balancing Issues
    6. Motions in Limine and Strategic Pretrial Motions

  5. Media Coverage and Jury Selection

    1. Impact of National Media Attention
    2. Social Media and Public Perception
    3. Voir Dire Considerations in Highly Publicized Cases
    4. Attorney Speech and Its Limitations
    5. Protecting Client Interests Outside the Courtroom

  6. Key Moments from Trial

    1. Opening Statements
    2. Det. Jeff O’Driscoll
    3. Medical Examiner’s Testimony
    4. The Housekeeper
    5. Procurement Witnesses
    6. Chris Kotrodimos
    7. Financial Witnesses
    8. Cody Wright
    9. First Responders
    10. Family Members
    11. Closing Arguments

  7. Lessons Learned from the Kouri Richins Trial

Who Should Attend

This true-crime legal course is designed for attorneys. Paralegals and legal staff will also benefit.

Speakers

Joel L Oster
Joel L.
Oster
Comedian of Law, LLC
Leighandra Hazlett
Leighandra
Hazlett
Sarpy County
Speaker bio
Joel L Oster

Joel L. Oster

Comedian of Law, LLC
Joel Oster

is a litigator, national speaker, podcaster and stand-up comic. He is in private practice specializing in constitutional law, appellate advocacy, and attorney ethics. Mr. Oster regularly litigates First Amendment issues and has been lead counsel on two cases that ended up in the U.S. Supreme Court. He has argued a case before the United States District Court for the Western District of New York and the Second Circuit and was part of a legal team that successfully defended a case in the U.S. Supreme Court. He's also prevailed as lead counsel in defending a case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Oster has spoken to thousands of attorneys across the United States and brings their combined practical perspectives to his seminars. He has presented at numerous bench and bar conferences and co-hosts the podcast DeBriefing the Law with Chris Marohn. The podcast covers current legal news and true crimes using their brand of humor. From the Supreme Court to O.J. Simpson, no legal topic is off-limits. Most importantly he is also a stand-up comic. Even though he has argued before numerous appellate courts, including Judge Calabresi of the Second Circuit, he said nothing compares to the nerves of trying to make a room full of drunk college kids laugh. He headlined the comedy tour "Presumed Funny" which featured random musings about the legal profession. Mr. Oster earned his J.D. degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in Kansas, Missouri, Florida and numerous federal courts.

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Speaker bio
Leighandra Hazlett

Leighandra Hazlett

Sarpy County
Leighandra Hazlett

is a deputy county attorney with Sarpy County in Nebraska. She earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice/legal studies from Missouri Western State University, her Master of Science degree in MS, forensic investigations from Missouri State University and her J.D. degree from Creighton University School of Law.

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