Spring Death Penalty Training 2025

Weekend 1: 7th-9th March  |  Weekend 2: 22nd-23rd March 2025  |  Linklaters, London

Register for our Spring Death Penalty training for the chance to meet U.S. lawyers, including Professors Jim Marcus, Raoul Schonneman and Thea Posel from the University of Texas at Austin.

Amicus runs a comprehensive bi-annual training programme in US capital defence law and procedure, legal research, evidence and professional conduct. Training is encouraged for all our volunteers and is compulsory for anyone wanting to undertake the Amicus US Placement.

Click HERE to learn more!

Champions Of Justice 2025

Tuesday 12th November 2025 at 6 PM  |  Old Bailey Grand Hall, London 

Amicus runs our annual Champions of Justice Awards ceremony, in honour of the thousands of pro bono hours our supporters and affiliated firms have given championing our cause. Celebrating all the amazing people, universities and firms that contribute essential work to Amicus and our cause.

Click HERE to learn more about Champions of Justice!

Death Row Advocacy from Georgia and Florida

Thursday 17th October 2024  |  University of Southampton (remote attendance)​​​​​​​

Join us for a discussion with Shayla Galloway and Christy Dickerson from the U.S. 

In this session, Shayla and Christy will share their personal anecdotes and experiences they face in representing individuals on death row in Georgia and Florida. Their narratives give insight into the struggles encountered in this complex legal system and how they affect people, the real victims of the system. Don't miss the opportunity to hear directly from the frontline from 1:00 to 1:45pm on 17th October! Please note that the session will be held online. 

Drag Bingo

Thursday 23rd May 2024  |  Kingsley Napley, London​​​​​​​

Get ready to sashay, slay, and play because we're rolling out the red carpet and extending a fabulous invitation to you for our inaugural Drag Bingo Night Extravaganza! This new event will be hosted by Drag Queen extraordinaire Proud Mary (@proudmary1984 on Instagram)! Whether you're a seasoned bingo pro or just looking for a night of laughter and fun, Drag Bingo Night is the place to be. Our dazzling drag queen will keep you entertained with her charm, wit, and stunning performances while you dab your way to victory.

Nitrogen Gas Inhalation: Legal? Ethical? Torture?

Wednesday 17th January 2024  |  BCLP, London

Alabama has scheduled the execution of Kenny Smith on the 25th January 2024, this will be the first execution to use this method of execution and has drawn controversy and shock. Our expert panel will discuss the science and pseudo-science of death by forced inhalation of nitrogen gas. The legalities and ethical issues surrounding Alabama’s decision to use Nitrogen Gas Inhalation (‘Nitrogen Hypoxia” “suffocation” or “Gassing”) as an execution method.  

You can watch the recording of the panel HERE on our Youtube page!

Death Penalty in Texas and the USA Today
Summary from the "Top Killer State" experts 

Wednesday 17th January 2024  |  BCLP, London

Since 1976, Texas has unapologetically executed more people than any other State in the USA. With the death penalty supposedly in decline, how does Texas now position itself? What are the current human rights and legal challenges? 

Professors Jim Marcus, Raoul Schonneman and Thea Posel from University of Texas Austin will be presenting live and in person to provide a unique opportunity to discuss issues surrounding the death penalty in Texas and the USA, with a wealth of experience and knowledge throughout all aspects of capital defense we anticipate this event to be a popular and lively event.

Seeing the Bigger Picture

A criminal justice movie series in August-September 2023

We are hosting a gripping set of movie screenings, delving into the world of the death penalty. Embark on a thought-provoking journey with several films about the death penalty and criminal justice. 

Events will start at 5.30pm, where you will be greeted with a popcorn reception and beverages and there will be an opportunity to network with some leading UK law firms! This event is open to all - members and non-members.

SCHEDULE
3 August: Fourteen Days in May
9 August: 12 Angry Men
16 August: Just Mercy
24 August: Clemency
31 August: Shawshank Redemption 
6 September: A series of short films (1 for 10 Series, The People vs. the Death Penalty)
14 September: 13th
21 September:  The State of Texas vs Melissa Lucio​​​​​​​

International (In)Justice

Sponsored by the University of Law

Thursday 24th November 2022  |  Zoom

We present a discussion on the (in)justice of the death penalty on a global scale. With fabulous guest speakers, below, we are set for a fascinating evening! 

• Gabrielle Darden, Capital Mitigation Specialist in Florida
• Professor Jon Yorke, professor of international law and human rights and Director of the Centre for Human Rights, BCU
• Joyce Claudia Choo, volunteer on US and Malaysian death penalty cases

We finish by celebrating the students who keep us going in our fight against injustice in the US death penalty. As Gabrielle so aptly puts it, 'One student at a time is how we change one million lives.'

For full event information and to register for free, please click HERE.

The event is free to attend. For those who are able to, we invite a suggested donation of £5 per person. To donate (any amount - big or small!) click HERE.

Webinar Series: Amicus on Death Row

ALL WEBINAR SESSIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO STREAM

Find out more about our host and exciting speakers HERE!

• Episode 1: Arts on Death Row
  The aesthetical impact of paintings, literature, theatre, and music. Professor Jon will introduce ‘music on death row,’ with the experts discussing how the paintings of Francisco de Goya and the plays of William Shakespeare contribute to our understanding of the death penalty. Can the arts contribute to ending this punishment?                             
• Episode 2: God on Death Row 
  To what extent do sacred texts identify a deity that demands capital punishment? This will be an insightful discussion into the evolution of the punishment within monotheistic religions such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Dr Roberto Carlés will provide excerpts from his personal audiences with Pope Francis. He will be joined by The Very Rev John Witcombe, Dean of Coventry Cathedral.                                                              
• Episode 3: Doctors on Death Row 
  In Of the Epidemics, Hippocrates stated, ‘The physician must be able to tell the antecedents…with regards to disease, namely, to do good or to do no harm.’ We’ll discuss how this principle is applied with two of the world’s leading experts on medical ethics and the science of putting people to death. 
• Episode 4: Time on Death Row                                                                                                                                                                             Time is an exploitable resource in the death penalty. A dangerous circumstance arises as governments can manipulate processes to weigh down the scales for executions. Temporal consciousness necessitates an understanding of how linear, cyclical, and relative time is applied. We’ll discuss how time can be used in the defence of those facing capital charges and executions.