In April of 2024, the Department of Education approved New Title IX rules, which are scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2024. Our firm is closely monitoring ongoing challenges to these new rules in court, and is working hard to provide you the most up-to-date information. Click here to learn about the current state of Title IX and how we can help if you are facing accusations.
If you're a student at a college or university in New Hampshire and you find yourself facing a Title IX hearing, it's necessary to take critical steps well in advance of the hearing. The school at a given time will prepare a investigation report. The investigation report before it's finalized needs to be responded to as effectively and as strongly as possible. At a minimum, it would need to include all relevant documentation, information and evidence. For example, text messages, social media posts, pictures, videos, witness statements, a toxicology report if consent is an issue, a forensic evaluation, a polygraph examination. Once finalized that report is presented to the panel and reviewed by the panel. So the hearing panel itself has a strong sense of the case before the hearing itself even takes place.
Prior to the hearing questions would have to be prepared for all parties, the accuser, their witnesses, the accused, their witnesses. Attacking the accuser's credibility is often key. So questions would have to bear that in mind. An opening and closing statement would have to be prepared. The hearing panel itself would have to be considered for any bias or potential conflict of interest. Pitfalls, and missteps that would need to be avoided, a party would need to be prepped for, also. Many steps need to be taken both in advance and at the hearing. An attorney advisor can help ensure a fair and favorable process.
