In this presentation, attorneys will explore effective sentencing techniques, approaches, and strategies. Topics will include recent developments such as the 2023 amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines, the discovery and use of impactful mitigation, the importance of storytelling, the pre-sentencing process, best practices in brief writing, forfeiture issues, and issues to be raised after a sentence is imposed.

Jeff Zimmerman
Attorney
Jeffrey Zimmerman, PLLC

Jeffrey Zimmerman has over 20 years of experience representing individuals facing a broad range of criminal charges, from white collar prosecutions to capital cases. Jeff also specializes in defending individuals and entities in civil and criminal forfeiture matters. He is a member of the Virginia and District of Columbia bars and practices in federal trial and appellate courts nationwide.

Jeff has been named in the list of preeminent lawyers in the field of criminal defense by Virginia Super Lawyers and as a Top Criminal Defense Lawyer by Northern Virginia Magazine. He is a frequent speaker on forfeiture litigation and federal criminal matters. He has been featured in various media including the New York Times, National Public Radio, and CNN. 

Jeff is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and has served on its Board of Directors since 2014. He currently chairs the Elections Committee and co-chairs the Membership Committee. He also founded and chairs the Social Media Committee. In 2015, Jeff received a NACDL President’s Commendation for distinguished service. 

Jeff is a graduate of American University, Washington College at Law, where he also served as Adjunct Faculty. He received his undergraduate degree, with a major in biology and minor in theater, from Oberlin College.

Joe King
Attorney 
King, Campbell, Poretz, and Mitchell PLLC

Joe’s criminal defense portfolio includes defending some of the area’s most significant murder cases (including Commonwealth v. Charles Severance and Commonwealth v. Craig Patterson) as well as defending international and domestic drug conspiracy and firearm offenses, federal white collar matters, all types of state offenses, and DUI/DWI allegations.  His work in criminal defense has been recognized by top regional publications The Washingtonian and Northern Virginia Magazine as well as Virginia Super Lawyers. Prior to establishing his private legal practice in 2008, Joe worked as an attorney at the Alexandria Office of the Public Defender (2004-2008), which has a number of alumni recognized among the Washington DC metro area’s top trial lawyers. During his time as a public defender, Joe diligently worked on behalf of his indigent clients and attended the respected Trial Practice Institute at the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, Georgia. Joe received his juris docturate cum laude from The University of Michigan Law School in 2003.  He earned a masters degree in History from George Mason University in 1996 and a bachelor’s degree in Physics from Mary Washington College in 1992. Joe is a fluent Spanish speaker.

Ellen Shultz
Mitigation Investigator
Federal Public Defender

Ellen Shultz joined the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria in 2012 as a mitigation specialist and social worker.  She works on a wide range of cases, including misdemeanors and complex felonies.  She started her forensic career as a mitigation specialist at the Northern Virginia Capital Defender office in 2007.  During her time with the office, she worked on over 10 death penalty cases, with all but one resolving in a life plea.  She has conducted several international mitigation investigations, including in Russia, Korea and South Africa.  She has presented to the criminal defense community on various topics, including conducting mitigation investigations and advocating for clients with mental health, substance use and developmental disorders.  Prior to becoming a mitigation specialist, Ellen was a paralegal at two civil litigation law firms in Washington, D.C.  She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.