Free OpenClaw Skill for Criminal Defense Firms: Discovery and Hearing Agent (Download)

What this skill does for your criminal defense firms

• Maintains the discovery log per matter: police reports, body-worn camera, dispatch CAD, forensic reports, lab analyses, witness statements, surveillance video, jail calls, NCIC histories, with received and reviewed status.
• Tracks Brady (Brady v. Maryland), Giglio (Giglio v. United States), and Henthorn material requests, surfaces overdue prosecution responses, and drafts the renewed-demand letter.
• Owns the motion-in-limine queue: Miranda suppression, Fourth Amendment suppression, expert qualification challenges, prior-conviction admissibility under FRE 609 or state equivalent.
• Runs the federal sentencing prep workflow: PSR review queue, USSG offense-level worksheet, criminal history calculation, departure and variance argument tracking.
• Routes every client and family-of-client communication through the attorney for approval by default, with the in-custody client communication channel separated from the out-of-custody channel.

What's inside this OpenClaw skill

The full file you download, indexed below for search engines and for operators who want to read before they install.

---
name: criminal-defense-discovery-hearing
description: Discovery log, Brady and Giglio tracker, motion-in-limine queue, federal sentencing PSR and USSG prep for criminal defense firms. Integrates with Clio, Filevine, MyCase.
version: 1.0.0
author: OpenClaw Consult (Adhiraj Hangal)
license: MIT
url: https://openclawconsult.com/skills/criminal-defense-firms
---

# OpenClaw Skill: Criminal Defense Discovery and Hearing Coordinator

## Overview

This skill turns the OpenClaw agent into the case-management coordinator for a
criminal defense firm. It owns the per-matter discovery log, the Brady /
Giglio / Henthorn material tracker, the motion-in-limine queue (suppression,
admissibility, expert qualification), the federal sentencing PSR-response and
USSG worksheet prep workflow, and the segmented in-custody vs out-of-custody
client communication channel.

It is designed for 1 to 6 attorney criminal defense firms (state and federal
practice) running Clio, Filevine, MyCase, or PracticePanther. Solo
practitioners and small criminal defense boutiques both work.

## What this skill does

1. Per-matter discovery log: police reports, body-worn camera, dispatch CAD, forensic reports, lab analyses, witness statements, surveillance video, jail calls, NCIC histories
2. Brady, Giglio, Henthorn material request tracker with renewed-demand drafting
3. Motion-in-limine queue: Miranda, Fourth Amendment, expert qualification, FRE 609 / state-equivalent prior conviction admissibility
4. Federal sentencing prep: PSR objection window (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32), USSG worksheet, departure and variance argument tracking
5. Court calendar readiness audit for the upcoming week's hearings
6. Segmented client communication: out-of-custody client SMS, in-custody attorney-to-facility correspondence, family-of-client status updates

## Triggers

```yaml
triggers:
  - type: heartbeat
    schedule: "0 7 * * 1"          # Mondays 7am
    action: discovery_chase_pass

  - type: heartbeat
    schedule: "0 8 * * 1"          # Mondays 8am
    action: court_calendar_readiness_audit

  - type: heartbeat
    schedule: "0 9 * * 4"          # Thursdays 9am
    action: sentencing_prep_queue

  - type: heartbeat
    schedule: "0 14 * * 5"         # Fridays 2pm
    action: weekly_client_status_update_drafts

  - type: on_event
    event: pms.matter_opened_criminal
    action: build_initial_discovery_demand

  - type: on_event
    event: pms.psr_received_federal
    action: enter_psr_objection_window_14d

  - type: on_event
    event: court.hearing_added_to_calendar
    action: schedule_readiness_checks
```

## Workflow: discovery log

For each matter the skill maintains a discovery checklist tied to the case type. For a DUI in California the default list includes the police report, dashcam, body-worn camera, dispatch CAD, breath instrument calibration records, officer training records, and the chemical test result. For a federal narcotics case the list expands to wire intercepts, surveillance reports, controlled-buy debriefs, lab analyses, and informant cooperation records.

Each item is tracked as: not_requested, requested, partial_received, fully_received, reviewed_complete. Monday at 7am the agent:

1. Pulls every active matter
2. Computes which items have been outstanding past the configured threshold (typical 30 days)
3. Drafts renewed-demand letters with the relevant case citations
4. Flags any matter where a hearing is approaching and discovery is incomplete
5. Routes to the attorney for approval

## Workflow: Brady / Giglio / Henthorn tracker

Brady requires disclosure of evidence favorable to the defense. Giglio requires disclosure of impeachment material for prosecution witnesses (testifying officer disciplinary history, cooperator agreements, witness payments). Some jurisdictions (California, Washington) have additional state-specific frameworks (Henthorn for police personnel material).

The skill tracks the demand letter, the prosecution response, any partial disclosure with attached log, and any motion to compel. Overdue responses trigger a renewed demand letter draft. The actual decision to file a motion to compel remains the attorney's.

## Workflow: motion-in-limine queue

For trial-bound matters the skill maintains the motion-in-limine queue:

- Motion to suppress under Fourth Amendment (search and seizure issues)
- Motion to suppress Miranda statements (custody, interrogation, warnings)
- Motion to exclude prior convictions under FRE 609 or state equivalent
- Motion to qualify or disqualify expert witnesses
- Motion to exclude 404(b) / state-equivalent prior bad acts evidence
- Motion to compel discovery
- Motion to dismiss for speedy trial violation

Each motion has a draft status, a filing deadline, an opposition response deadline, and a hearing date. The court calendar readiness audit surfaces motions that need to be filed in time for hearing.

## Workflow: federal sentencing prep

For federal cases the workflow runs from PSR (Pre-Sentence Report) receipt through sentencing hearing:

1. PSR received from probation: 14-day objection window opens (Fed. R. Crim. P. 32)
2. Agent drafts an objection skeleton based on attorney input on areas of disagreement
3. USSG worksheet maintained: offense conduct level (USSG Chapter 2 specific guideline), adjustments (role, vulnerable victim, obstruction, abuse of trust), Chapter 3 acceptance of responsibility, criminal history points and category, resulting offense level and guideline range
4. Variance argument tracking under 18 USC 3553(a) factors: nature and circumstances of offense, history and characteristics of defendant, need for the sentence imposed
5. Sentencing memorandum drafting prompt with the variance arguments mapped

The actual USSG application and sentencing memorandum drafting is the attorney's. The skill maintains the worksheet so the inputs are tight.

## Workflow: court calendar readiness audit

Monday at 8am the agent pulls every hearing scheduled in the next 7 days and audits readiness:

- Motion briefs lodged
- Witness subpoenas served and returned
- Exhibits exchanged with opposition
- Discovery review complete on items the hearing will address
- Client notified and confirmed (out-of-custody) or attorney visit scheduled (in-custody)
- Family-of-client status update sent if matter calls for it

Flagged readiness gaps route to the attorney.

## Message templates

```yaml
templates:
  client_court_date_reminder_out_of_custody:
    body: |
      Hi {client_first_name},

      Reminder: you have a court date {hearing_date} at {hearing_time} in
      Department {department}, {courthouse_name}. Plan to arrive by
      {arrival_time} for screening and to meet with me before the hearing.

      Dress: business or business casual. No phones in the courtroom. If
      anything has come up that I should know before the hearing, reply to
      this thread.

      {attorney_first_name}

  family_status_update_in_custody:
    body: |
      Hi {family_contact_first_name},

      Quick status update on {client_first_name}'s case. The next court
      date is {next_court_date} at {next_court_time}. Current focus:
      {current_focus_summary_no_strategy_details}.

      I will see {client_first_name} in person at {next_jail_visit_date}.
      If anything has changed on the family side (housing, employment for
      release planning, support letters), please send to my paralegal
      {paralegal_first_name}.

      {attorney_first_name}

  discovery_renewed_demand:
    subject: "Renewed demand for outstanding discovery in {case_caption}"
    body: |
      Dear {prosecutor_name},

      This is a renewed demand for the following discovery items in
      {case_caption}, originally requested on {initial_request_date}:

      {outstanding_items_list}

      Several of these items implicate the prosecution's obligations under
      Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and Giglio v. United States,
      405 U.S. 150 (1972). Please confirm production schedule by
      {response_deadline_date}.

      Sincerely,
      {attorney_first_name}, counsel for {client_first_name}

  psr_objection_window_internal:
    channel: internal_slack
    body: |
      PSR OBJECTION WINDOW
      Matter: {matter_caption}
      Defendant: {client_first_name} {client_last_name}
      PSR received: {psr_received_date}
      Fed. R. Crim. P. 32 objection deadline: {psr_objection_deadline}
      Initial review areas flagged: {initial_objection_areas}
      Action: attorney review and objection drafting

  motion_filing_deadline_internal:
    channel: internal_slack
    body: |
      MOTION FILING DEADLINE
      Matter: {matter_caption}
      Motion: {motion_type}
      Hearing date: {hearing_date}
      Filing deadline per local rule: {filing_deadline}
      Draft status: {draft_status}
      Action: attorney review and finalize before {filing_deadline}
```

## Memory keys

```yaml
memory:
  - key: cd.matter_ledger[{matter_id}]
    description: Master record per matter
    schema: { caption: string, charges: array, jurisdiction: string, custody_status: string, plea_status: string, trial_track: bool }

  - key: cd.discovery_log[{matter_id}]
    description: Discovery checklist and status by item
    schema: { items: array, last_demand_date: date, overdue_flag: bool }

  - key: cd.brady_log[{matter_id}]
    description: Brady, Giglio, Henthorn material request tracking
    schema: { demanded: array, produced: array, motion_to_compel_state: string }

  - key: cd.motion_queue[{matter_id}]
    description: Motion-in-limine queue
    schema: { motions: array, hearing_date: date }

  - key: cd.sentencing_prep[{matter_id}]
    description: Federal sentencing PSR and USSG worksheet state
    schema: { psr_received: date, objection_deadline: date, ussg_worksheet: object, variance_arguments: array }

  - key: cd.court_calendar[{matter_id}]
    description: Hearing calendar entries
    schema: { upcoming_hearings: array, last_readiness_audit: date }
```

## Required integrations

| Integration             | Purpose                                          | Read | Write |
|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|------|-------|
| Clio Manage             | Matters, contacts, tasks via REST                | yes  | optional |
| Filevine                | Matters, contacts via API                        | yes  | optional |
| MyCase                  | Matters, contacts via API                        | yes  | optional |
| E-discovery portal      | Prosecution evidence portal (varies by office)   | yes  | no    |
| Court e-filing system   | PACER (federal), state e-filing portals          | yes  | no    |
| Twilio (or similar)     | Outbound SMS to out-of-custody clients           | no   | yes   |
| Email provider          | Outbound prosecution and witness correspondence  | no   | yes   |
| OpenClaw Memory         | Cross-run state                                  | yes  | yes   |
| OpenClaw Heartbeat      | Scheduled cadence                                | yes  | yes   |

Write-back to the PMS starts disabled. The attorney commits all changes manually for the first two weeks. After validation, write access can be flipped on for low-risk fields (task updates, communication log entries, discovery-status stamps).

## Compliance notes

ABA Model Rule 1.6 confidentiality: all communications route through the attorney for approval by default. Outbound copy never names specific defense strategy, plea negotiation status, sentencing position, or witness preparation. The agent operates within the BAA-equivalent environment configured for the firm.

In-custody client communication: the skill does not send text messages to in-custody clients. In-custody communication runs through the facility's authorized channels (legal mail, attorney visit, GTL or ARAMARK paid systems where applicable). The skill drafts attorney-to-facility correspondence per facility rules.

NCIC access: the skill does not query NCIC. NCIC access is restricted to law enforcement and court-ordered access. The skill works with criminal history records that have been produced through discovery (rap sheets, certified court records, PSR criminal history sections).

USSG and sentencing: the skill maintains the worksheet inputs and surfaces the resulting offense level and guideline range. The application of the USSG, the variance argument under 18 USC 3553(a), and the sentencing memorandum drafting remain the attorney's.

State bar advertising and solicitation rules: the skill is a back-office coordinator. It does not handle client solicitation or advertising.

Confirm your data residency requirements before pointing OpenClaw at a cloud provider.

## Configuration

```yaml
config:
  firm_name: "Your Criminal Defense Firm"
  attorneys:
    - last_name: "Okafor"
      bar_states: [NY, NJ, federal]
  approval_mode: attorney_approves_all   # or "autonomous_after_2_weeks_routine_only"
  jurisdictions:
    - state: NY
      discovery_rule: "NY CPL 245"
    - federal: true
      discovery_rule: "Fed. R. Crim. P. 16"
  discovery_overdue_days: 30
  brady_renewed_demand_days: 30
  psr_objection_window_days: 14
  ussg_book_year: 2024
  court_calendar_readiness_audit_day: monday
  in_custody_facilities:
    - name: "Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn"
      legal_mail_address: "..."
      attorney_visit_booking_url: "..."
```

## Quick install

```bash
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
mv criminal-defense-firms.md ~/.claude/skills/criminal-defense-discovery-hearing.md
# Edit the config block to match your firm
```

Launch OpenClaw and the skill is live. Run `discovery audit` or `court calendar readiness` or `sentencing prep queue` on demand, or wait for Heartbeat.

## Want it wired to your stack?

This SKILL.md is the starting point. If you want it plugged into your specific PMS, your local e-discovery portal, your jurisdiction's specific rules, and your client-communication voice, on a fixed-price two-week clock with the founder writing every line of the build, the door is at
https://www.adhirajhangal.com/work

Install in 60 seconds

1. 1

   Drop the file into your OpenClaw skills directory

   Save the downloaded criminal-defense-firms.md as ~/.claude/skills/criminal-defense-discovery-hearing.md (or your project-level .claude/skills/). OpenClaw picks up new skill files on next agent launch.

2. 2

   Connect your practice management system

   Edit the integrations block to point at Clio or Filevine. Read-only access is enough to start. The skill ships the prompts that translate the matter ledger, the discovery checklist, and the court calendar into the agent's working memory.

3. 3

   Launch in approval mode, validate, then flip to autonomous

   Start with the attorney approving every client-facing and prosecution-facing communication. Defaults route anything that touches plea strategy, sentencing position, suppression argument, or trial strategy to the attorney. After two weeks, flip the routine court-date reminder and discovery follow-up templates to autonomous.

Example conversation

Common questions

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