APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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8:15am MST

Hearsay for Humans

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

Remember the rules governing hearsay without struggle, lay foundation that is as powerful for the jury as it is for the Court, and establish your authority in the Courtroom. Learn a more relaxed approach to introduction of out-of-court statements that will achieve your trial goals without stressing you out and have your opponent on the ropes.

Faculty

Jeremy Zarzycki

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

I am a senior attorney for the Pima County Public Defender's office. I was previously in private practice for six years and have taught for both our own office and as a coach for University of Arizona Mock Trial

Victoria Otto

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
Palm Ballroom C&F

Courtroom Advocacy

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: The Weight We Carry: Stress, Trauma, and Resilience in Criminal Defense Practice

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

Palm Ballroom C&F

This class explores the psychological and emotional challenges as well as the ethical and practical realities of criminal defense practice. We will discuss how factors such as heavy workloads, secondary trauma, and imposter syndrome contribute to burnout and unhealthy coping behaviors. Participants will learn to recognize warning signs of stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse while learning evidence-based strategies for resilience and self-care. We will also review related ethical rules and how attorneys can best help a struggling colleague.

Faculty

Ross Carponelli

Attorney, Mohave Co. Public Defender

Ross S. Carponelli is a Deputy Public Defender in Mohave County, Arizona, where he represents clients in all types of felony matters. His practice emphasizes strategic motion work, jury-focused advocacy, and disciplined trial decision from pretrial through sentencing.Ross regularly develops and presents tr... Read More →

Dawnese Hustad

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Dawnese Hustad is a Capital Trial Attorney for the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. Before moving to trial work, Dawnese spent 8 years doing felony and capital appeals. Dawnese has represented indigent felony defendants in Maricopa County for all but one of her 19 years... Read More →

Meghann St. Thomas

Attorney, Jeffrey Gil Law

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
Palm Ballroom C&F

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: Child Sex Trafficking: Defense Strategies and Ethical Boundaries

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

Palm Ballroom C&F

This program examines Arizona’s newly enacted mandatory natural-life sentencing statute for adult defendants convicted of Class 2 child sex trafficking. Faculty will walk through statutory triggers, subsection analysis, charging and plea-negotiation strategies, early motion practice, jury-instruction warfare, and constitutional preservation techniques. Emphasis is placed on how defense counsel can restructure litigation around offense classification rather than sentencing ranges, and how to ethically and effectively advocate in cases where a single conviction results in automatic life imprisonment without release.

Faculty

Ross Carponelli

Attorney, Mohave Co. Public Defender

Robert Heieck

Attorney, Mohave Co. Public Defender

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
Palm Ballroom C&F

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

3:15pm MST

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