The History of AGACL

The 31st conference of the AGACL is an outgrowth of an informal meeting held in Austin, Texas, in the early spring of 1979. At that time, representatives from fifteen states discussed a variety of issues that were being raised by the defense bar in opposition to the imposition of the death penalty. The various states determined that further prosecution cooperation was urgently needed. In July 1979, a second, more formal meeting was again held in Austin, Texas. This meeting was sponsored by the Texas Attorney General with the assistance of the Florida Attorney General. At the conclusion of the second meeting, the states agreed to have an annual conference where government attorneys at all levels could receive professional instruction and share ideas.

Utah volunteered to host the first national conference. At the conclusion of the Salt Lake Conference in January 1980, it was unanimously agreed by the participants that a permanent association of government lawyers in this specialized field should be established independent of other national organizations to ensure continuity of the project. The name selected for the organization was the "Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation."

AGACL is now an active, full-time non-profit Association with a membership of over three hundred government agencies and officers. Membership dues are $100 per agency. If you are interested in becoming an active participant in this Association, please contact any member of the Executive Committee or write: Mr. Kent E. Cattani, Secretary-Treasurer, AGACL, PMB-102, 125 North 2nd Street, Suite 110, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-2370, (602) 938-5793.

Katherine B. Burnett, President, Richmond, Virginia, 804-786-9642; Bernard J. Murray, Vice-President, Wheaton, Illinois, 630-407-8093; Kent E. Cattani, Secretary-Treasurer, Phoenix, Arizona, 602-542-8589.

Region I, Jeffrey Zick, Phoenix, Arizona, 602-542-8594; Region II, James McKay, Chicago, Illinois, 773-869-3008; Region III, Carolyn M. Snurkowski, Tallahassee, Florida, 850-414-3300; Region IV, Stephen Schumaker, Springfield, Ohio, 937-328-2574; Region V, Ronald Eisenberg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 215-686-5700; Region VI, Kelli L. Weaver, Austin, Texas, 512-936-1400.

Angela C. Backers, Fremont, California, 510-795-2516; Joseph E. Birkett, Wheaton, Illinois, 630-682-7050; J. Kirk Brown, Lincoln, Nebraska, 402-471-2644; Ward A. Campbell, Sacramento, California, 916-324-5251; Dane R. Gillette, San Francisco, California, 415-703-5866; Kevin W. Lyons, Peoria, Illinois, 309-672-6900; Edward L. Marshall, Austin, Texas, 512-936-1400; Candace M. Mosley, Columbia, South Carolina, 803-705-5092; Thomas B. Thurman, Nashville, Tennessee, 615-862-5500; Marvin L. White, Jackson, Mississippi, 601-359-3680; Matt J. Whitworth, Kansas City, Missouri, 816-426-4122; Roe Wilson, Houston, Texas, 713-755-5800; Donald J. Zelenka, Columbia, South Carolina, 803-734-6305.

Email: agacl@msn.com