Expert trial strategies for defense teams representing persons accused of physical child abuse, child sexual abuse, shaken baby syndrome, Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, etc.
Over 100 appearances on national television and radio.
Kim Hart has appeared on:
Kim Hart
Trial Support Services
My name is Kim Hart, and I am a trial consultant with over 25 years of experience assisting attorneys in the successful defense of persons accused of child abuse and/or sex crimes, as well as successfully appealing those wrongfully convicted of child abuse and/or sex crimes.
I am knowledgeable as to the current state of the science in child abuse and sex crimes cases, as well as appeals case law, and I am skillful at incorporating this information into specific cases. I maintain excellent professional relationships with the leading experts in every field of child abuse and sex crimes, and can effectively integrate these experts into specific cases when necessary to help facilitate a successful defense.
Since 1987 I have worked with various attorneys on cases in every state in the United States, and I have the experience and knowledge of what issues must be addressed, as well as which strategies have proven successful and which have not.
Additionally…
I have helped organize 18 international conferences dealing with the defense of child abuse and sex crimes that are geared toward attorneys as part of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.
I am an associate member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.
I am a member of Strathmore’s Who’s Who, VIP, Lifetime Achievement Listing.
I am the author of Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A Manual for Surviving False Allegations of Child Abuse.
My fees are constructed on a case by case basis depending on the complexity of the case and the amount of my involvement.
If you want to see more of my experience, please keep reading the sections below.
Presentations and Seminars
Written Works
Child Abuse Allegations: The Modern Day “Scarlet Letter”. 15th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. August 26-28, 2010.
Defending Child Sex Cases. Indiana Public Defender Council Seminar. Indianapolis, Indiana. March 6, 2009.
Child Abuse Allegations: Separating Scientific Fact from Fiction. 14th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. September 28-30, 2008.
Child Abuse Allegations: Science vs. Junk Science in the Courtroom. 13th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. September 18-20, 2006.
Defending Child Molest Cases: The Pendulum is Swinging. Indiana Public Defender Council. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 25, 2005.
Child Abuse Allegations: Separating Fact from Fiction. 12th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. October 14-16, 2004.
Child Abuse Allegations: Science vs. Suspicion. 11th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. New Orleans (Metairie), Louisiana. March 13-15, 2003.
Innocent people convicted of child sexual abuse and imprisoned as a national problem.* American Academy of Forensic Sciences 55th Annual Meeting. General Session. Chicago, Illinois. February 21, 2003.*Paper accepted for publication.
Defending Child Molest Cases is Different. Indiana Public Defender Council seminar. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 14, 2003.
Practical and Scientific Elements in Child Sex Abuse Cases. Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers seminar. Columbus, Ohio. April 12, 2002.
Sexually Dangerous Persons: Registration and Community Notification Requirements for Juveniles Deemed as “Sexually Dangerous”.* American Academy of Forensic Sciences 54th Annual Meeting. General Session. Atlanta, Georgia. February 14, 2002.
*Paper accepted for publication.
Investigating Child Sex Cases. Missouri State Public Defenders Trial Skills Training Conference. Lake Ozark, Missouri. December 5 & 6, 2001.
Child Abuse Allegations in the Courts: Science & Reason vs. Myth & Emotion. 10th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Reno, Nevada. October 17-19, 2001.
Child Abuse Allegations: 2000 and Beyond. 9th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Kansas City, Missouri. September 14-16, 2000.
Allegations of Sex Abuse: A detailed analysis of a sex abuse case from beginning to end: from investigation through the predator hearing. Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Cleveland, Ohio. May 12, 2000.
Child Abuse Allegations: Myth vs. Reality. American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA). Boardwalk Seminar 2000. Atlantic City, New Jersey. April 13 & 14, 2000.
Child Abuse Allegations: The Law, The Science, The Myths, The Reality. 8th International Conference of National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. October 14-16, 1999.
Keys to Successful Defense of Abuse Cases. Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorneys Association Conference. Villager Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska. February 19, 1999.
Defending Child Abuse. Indiana Public Defender Council. Indianapolis, Indiana. February 12, 1999.
In Defense of Rape and Child Abuse: Where Law and Science Meet. Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. University of Dayton Law School, Dayton, Ohio. February 5, 1999.
Allegations of Child Abuse: The Law, The Science, The Myths, The Reality. Seventh International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. October 22-24, 1998.
Defending Child Molest Cases. Indiana Public Defender Council Seminar. Indianapolis, Indiana. December 12, 1997.
Integrating the Science with your Legal Defense. Co-presentation with Terry Harper, J.D. Indiana Public Defender Council Seminar. Indianapolis, Indiana. December 12, 1997.
Defending Child Abuse Allegations. Sixth International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. September 11-14, 1997.
Child Abuse Allegations II: The Law, The Science, The Myths, The Reality. Fifth International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Las Vegas, Nevada. September 20-22, 1996.
Attacking the 980 Predicate Conviction. Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. August 1, 1996.
Accountability of Social Workers. Ohio University School of Social Work, Athens, Ohio. April 22, 1996.
Ramifications of Recent Court Decisions Involving Child Sexual Abuse. Joint Presentation with Karl Rissland, Esq. Trumbull County Bar Association. Trumbull County, Ohio. February 16, 1996.
Allegations of Child Abuse: The Law, The Science, The Myths, The Reality. Fourth International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Chicago, Illinois. October 6-8, 1996.
Issues in Child Abuse Cases. Joint Presentation with Melvin Guyer, J.D. & Ph.D. of University of Michigan. Missouri State Public Defender Conference. St. Louis, Missouri. June 7, 1995.
Current National Trends in Holding Professionals Accountable in Child Abuse Cases. Lucas County Bar Association Juvenile Court. Toledo, Ohio. May 26, 1995.
Allegations of Child Abuse: The Issues, The Law, The Science. Third International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Co-sponsored with Cuyahoga Bar Association. Cleveland, Ohio. September 24-25, 1994.
Child Sexual Abuse Legal Issues for Criminal and Family Court. Indiana State Bar Association Annual Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana. June, 1994. (Keynote Speaker)
DEFENDING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH. Integrating research from the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and medicine into an aggressive legal defense in criminal cases. Massachusetts State Public Defender Association Annual Conference. Salem State College, Boston, Massachusetts. June 5, 1993. (Keynote Speaker)
The Eight Most Common Pitfalls Attorneys Make in Defending Child Abuse Cases. Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Annual Conference. Cleveland, Ohio. March 12, 1993.
Issues to Address in Child Abuse Cases: Legal Strategies and Current Trends. Second International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Kansas City, Missouri. October, 1989.
A Plea for Valid Research into Child Abuse Allegations and Issues. First International Conference of the National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center. Perrysburg, Ohio. October, 1987.
***Additional guest lectures have been given at Ohio University School of Social Work, W. Virginia University School of Social Work, and Baylor University School of Law.
Proper Defense of False Allegations of Abuse. The Voice, published by the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. September, 2002. Volume 31, No. 7. Co-authored with L.T. “Butch” Bradt, J.D. and Elsie Martin-Simon, J.D.
After-word in From the Mouths of Babes: The Criminal Trial of a Sunday School Teacher. 2001. Paul Grey, Ph.D. Lost Coast Publishing.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A Manual for Surviving False Allegations of Child Abuse. Second Edition. 2000. Published by the NCADRC Publishing.
Defending Child Abuse Allegations Motion Book with CD-Rom. 1998. Published by NCADRC.
Deposition Questions for Mental Health Professionals Regarding Sexual Abuse. 1995. Published by NCADRC.
Guilty Until Proven Innocent: A Manual for Surviving False Allegations of Child Abuse. 1989. Winchester Group (Parker & Son Legal Publishing).
References
The following attorneys are a sampling of attorneys that Kimberly has consulted:
John Edmond Mays, J.D., Decatur, Alabama
Stephen Glassroth, J.D., Montgomery, Alabama
Mary Lynn Belsher, J.D., Modesto, California
Charles Jamieson, J.D., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Bruce Lyons, J.D., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Douglas Peters, J.D., Decatur, Georgia
William Harrison, J.D., Honolulu, Hawaii
Patrick Arata, J.D., Ft. Wayne, Indiana
George Jones, J.D. Lamoni, Iowa
John Andrews, J.D., Salem, Massachusetts
Gail S. Benson, J.D., Beverly Hills, Michigan
Tim Cisar, J.D., Lake Ozark, Missouri
Jay Milano, J.D., Rocky River, Ohio
Karl Rissland, J.D., Streetsboro, Ohio
Lorin Zaner, J.D., Toledo, Ohio
James Hankle, J.D., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Andrew Savage III, J.D., Charleston, South Carolina
James Bell, J.D., Knoxville, Tennessee
L.T. “Butch” Bradt, J.D., Houston, Texas
Robert Estrada, J.D., Wichita Falls, Texas
Elsie Martin-Simon, J.D., Houston, Texas
David S. Marshall, J.D., Seattle, Washington
Robert LeBell, J.D., Milwaukee, Wisconsin