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 that attends a college or university in Rhode Island and you're facing a Title IX hearing, it's important to take critical steps as early as possible in advance of the hearing. At a point in time during the course of the Title IX case, the school will prepare an investigation report. Prior to it being finalized, it's important to respond to the report as strongly and as effectively as possible. Relevant documentation, information, and evidence needs to be included in the final investigation report. At an absolute minimum text messages, social media, post pictures, videos, phone logs, witness statements, a forensic evaluation, a polygraph examination, a toxicology report. The report needs to be as strong as possible because once finalized it's presented to the hearing panel, the panel reviews it in advance of the hearing, and has a strong sense of the case before the hearing even takes place.
Attacking the accuser's credibility is key. Questions would need to be prepared with that in mind to address to the accuser and the accuser's witnesses during the hearing. The accused would need to be prepped and planned accordingly for potential pitfalls and missteps that can take place during the Title IX hearing. A hearing panel itself would have to be considered for potential bias and conflict. An opening and closing statement would have to be prepared. Many steps have to be taken to ensure a fair and favorable hearing process. An experienced attorney advisor can help.
