The American College of Trial Lawyers has released its White Paper on Campus Sexual Assault Investigation. The white paper was prepared by The Task Force on the Response of Universities and Colleges to Allegations of Sexual Violence. The task force includes ALI member A. Gilchrist Sparks III, who serves as a Members Consultative Group participant on the Project on Sexual and Gender-Based Misconduct on Campus: Procedural Frameworks and Analysis. Other members of the task force are Pamela Robillard Mackey, Ritchie E. Berger, Elizabeth N. Mulvey, and Earl J. Silbert.

From ACTL’s Position Statement:

The American College of Trial Lawyers maintains and seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on important legal issues relating to its mission. The College strongly supports the independence of the judiciary, trial by jury, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, and fair and just representation of all parties to legal proceedings.

ACTL recognizes, and is deeply concerned by, the problem of sexual assaults on college campuses. ACTL believes in the importance of protecting all students from sexual misconduct and ensuring that they are provided an educational environment free of sexual harassment.

ACTL also believes that it is important to ensure that students investigated for, or charged with, sexual assault or misconduct violations be afforded basic fairness and due process.

Download the Task Force Allegations of Sexual Violence White Paper.