The 45th 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 two 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: Bill Bilderback, Secretary-Treasurer, AGACL, P.O. Box 42032 - Los Angeles, CA 90042.

President
Brian Baker
First Assistant District Attorney
Brazos County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office

Vice President
Hon. Rick Hubbard
Solicitor
South Carolina’s 11th J.C.

Secretary-Treasurer
Bill Bilderback
Senior Assistant Attorney General
California Attorney General’s Office

Dana Ali
Supervising Deputy Attorney General
California Attorney General’s Office

Angela Backers
Deputy District Attorney (retired)
Alameda County (California) District Attorney’s Office

Beth A. Burton
Deputy Attorney General
Georgia Attorney General’s Office

Mark Caliel
Chief Assistant
State Attorney’s Office 4th J.C. of Florida

Ronald Eisenberg
Senior Appellate Counsel
Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office

Britt Imes
Deputy District Attorney
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office

Ray Lepone
Assistant Attorney General
Tennessee Attorney General’s Office

Lisa Tanner
Division Chief (retired)
Texas Attorney General’s Office

Ashley Rich
Supernumerary District Attorney
Mobile County (Alabama) District Attorney’s Office

Gwen Vindell
Assistant Attorney General
Texas Attorney General’s Office

Roe Wilson
Assistant District Attorney (retired)
Harris County (Texas) District Attorney’s Office

Ex Officio Past Presidents
Edward L. Marshall
Chief, Criminal Appeals Division
Texas Attorney General’s Office

Sheila Ross
Director of Capital Litigation
Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia