FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 6, 2026

National Symposium Brings Together Prosecutors, Judges, Defense Attorneys and Civil Rights Advocates from Across Political Spectrum to Address Criminal Justice Challenges 

Princeton, NJ — A bipartisan group of more than 100 elected prosecutors, public defenders, judges, police chiefs, civil rights advocates, journalists and researchers gathered at Princeton University on March 19–20 for the National Symposium on Ethical Communications in Criminal Cases, a convening focused on how criminal cases are communicated to the public and how guiding principles can strengthen fairness, accuracy, due process, and public trust.

The symposium, co-hosted by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and supported by The Just Trust, brought together policymakers from across the United States. Participants represented jurisdictions large and small and reflected broad geographic and political diversity, alongside national organizations shaping justice policy, media coverage, and community engagement.

Over two days, participants examined how public narratives about criminal cases take shape, the legal and ethical boundaries that govern public statements, and the ways communications decisions affect victims, defendants, families, and communities. Discussions also explored emerging challenges tied to data, artificial intelligence, the speed at which information now circulates, and the growing influence of digital and nontraditional media, including social media platforms, documentaries, and podcasts.

The convening concluded with a leadership roundtable of national organizations aimed at translating the symposium’s discussions into strategies that can be implemented and scaled nationwide. Participants worked to identify opportunities for continued collaboration, including ways to strengthen communication practices, develop practical guidance, and support cross-disciplinary learning that can be adapted across jurisdictions.

Roundtable participants emphasized the need for clearer direction during the earliest stages of a case, including concise checklists and model policies that can be applied across jurisdictions. They also highlighted the importance of cross-sector alignment, calling for stronger coordination and training across sectors to promote shared understanding and more cohesive communication practices.

Additional priorities identified through the roundtable included the development of victim-centered communication protocols, the use of respectful and neutral language, and more responsible use of data to ensure public messaging is accurate and does not mislead or harm communities. Finally, participants underscored the need for ongoing collaboration and the creation of tools that can be readily implemented, reinforcing a shared commitment to strengthening fairness, transparency, and public trust.

These priorities reflect a central theme that emerged throughout the symposium, where even across diverse perspectives there was clear alignment on the need for more effective, coordinated approaches to communication that can be applied across jurisdictions and under real-world pressures. “We are in a moment where many criminal cases unfold in public almost instantly, and early narratives can take hold before facts are complete, presenting challenges to the presumption of innocence and the ability of prosecutors and defense attorneys to present their cases,” said Udi Ofer, John L. Weinberg Visiting Professor and Lecturer of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. “This gathering of criminal justice leaders from across the political spectrum represents an important step towards the goal of ensuring that our nation’s criminal justice system protects both public safety and human dignity. This convening builds on our previous work at Princeton bringing together leaders from across the political spectrum to agree on core principles to guide criminal justice policymaking. With this convening, we are moving from shared principles to practical standards to guide criminal cases and to protect fairness, dignity, and public trust in the nation’s criminal justice system.”

“The public narrative of a criminal case is created collectively,” said Ana Zamora, Founder and CEO of The Just Trust. “Prosecutors, defense attorneys, journalists, courts, and advocates all shape how cases are understood and remembered. That shared influence creates a shared responsibility. This gathering created a first-of-its-kind space for cross-sector dialogue and for identifying concrete steps organizations can take to ensure communications support fairness, dignity, and public confidence.”

Participants included leaders from jurisdictions such as Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; Broward County, Florida; Tulsa County, Oklahoma; and other offices spanning the country, along with representatives from organizations including the ACLU, Right on Crime, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the Innocence Project, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, The Poynter Institute, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Yale Law School Justice Collaboratory, JustLeadershipUSA, and others.

“Ethical communication in our courts cannot simply be subject matter for lawyers,” said Spencer Merriweather, District Attorney for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Chair of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys Board of Directors. “What made this symposium so impactful was the engagement of practitioners from a range of disciplines. Elected prosecutors from different political parties, defenders, journalists, and advocates all have a part to play to ensure that truth and dignity—in the way that we talk about the law—serve to fortify the rule of law. The subsequent roundtable provided the opportunity to speak candidly and to renew our collective commitment to protect due process, respect victims and families, and maintain public confidence. Most importantly, we used this moment to set the stage for turning these conversations into concrete best practices that can be modeled in a variety of jurisdictions.”

Organizers intend for the symposium and roundtable to serve as a launchpad for continued collaboration and the development of practical guidance and model policies that can be adopted by justice agencies, media organizations, and national associations across the country.