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

ETHICS: Representing Children and Parents in Juvenile Court

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

This course will review the duties and responsibilities under the Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile court placed on an attorney representing a child under Rule 306 and an attorney representing a parent under rule 307. We will examine how those responsibilities manifest in real-world situations and how they interact with the rules of professional conduct that apply to both attorneys and staff.

Speakers

Rachel Metelits

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Jeremiah Jensen

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Erin Bevins

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Criminal Immigration Basics, Ethics, and Updates

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

This course will explain the basics of how to not get your client deported. We provide an introduction into the ethical obligations a defender owes to their client and explain the basics of the interplay between immigration and criminal law.

Speakers

Michael Neufeld

Attorney, Neufeld Law Firm

Michael Neufeld of the Neufeld Law Firm PLC splits his practice evenly between Immigration and Criminal law focusing on the interplay between the two. He is the Chariman of the State Bar of Arizona Criminal Justice Section executive counsel. He previously served as Chairman of the... Read More →

Tracy Abastillas

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Tracy Abastillas is the Criminal Immigration Resource Attorney at the Office of the Public Defender in Maricopa County (MCPD). Mrs. Abastillas consults with attorneys throughout the MCPD regarding the immigration consequences of clients’ charges and plea offers. She conducts new... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Immigration

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Juror Investigations by MCAO

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

In a homicide case, MCAO asked the court to strike for some potential jurors for cause, but the court did denied their request and did not strike them. MCAO then used their access to law enforcement databases to investigate those jurors solely for the purpose of gaining private information to be used in another attempt to have them removed for cause. We will discuss the litigation, the pleadings, the outcomes, and what it means for jury selection in the future.

Speakers

Victoria Washington

Attorney, Masada Law

Started with the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office in 1997, hung out there for a LONG time and wore a few hats. Went itno the Capital Litigation Unit in 2003. Left the Office, started her own firm where she is contract counsel with a Capital Defense and Major Felony Contract... Read More →

Kellie Sanford

Attorney, Kellie Sanford Law

Kellie also started out with the Maricopa Co. Public Defender's . She also has her own firm, has a Major Felony Contract and has recently completed a death penalty trial in Maricopa Co..

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Jury

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: After Closing Argument / Post-Verdict / Post-Mistrial Practice

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

Mistrial declared, or your case came back on appeal, or bombshell information surfaces post-closing argument. Now what? A practical approach to post-closing argument litigation, pre-retrial strategizing, and the benefits that flow from active trial work; includes excerpts from Courtroom Audio / Video and ETHICS.

Speakers

Samuel Doak

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Attorney at The Maricopa Co. of the Legal Advocate for about 6 years. Prior to that, Sam was an attorney at the Maricopa Co. Public Defender for 5 years. He also has prior experience in Tucson and San Diego.

Kush Govani

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Maria McKee

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Complex Ethical Issues in Dependency Cases

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

A dependency case is initiated by a state agency (like Child Protective Services) when a child is alleged to be abused, neglected, or abandoned. The court determines if the parent is unable to provide proper care, often resulting in court-ordered services, family supervision, or temporary removal of the child to ensure their safety. Join us for a discussion about the complicated ethical issues that arise in dependency cases, including the scope of Parent and Child Representation, and how to address them.

Speakers

Brian Strickman

Attorney, Strickman Law

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Westlaw, AI, and You

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

This course introduces new AI features in Westlaw that make our lives easier. Learn data security, best practices for using AI, how to avoid pitfalls.

Speakers

Abigail Smith

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Maricopa Co. of the Public Defender

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

ETHICS: What You Don’t Say Matters: Strategic Silence in Objections and Cross-Examination

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST

TBA

This session explores how deliberate restraint can strengthen your trial advocacy. Learn when silence is more persuasive than objection, when not to cross-examine, and how to avoid common pitfalls that weaken your case by saying too much.

Speakers

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 →

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST
TBA

Courtroom Advocacy

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

ETHICS: The Do's and Don'ts of Juvenile Delinquency Trial Preparation

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST

TBA

In a delinquency case, a child is accused of committing a criminal act. This Couse will discuss preparation for Delinquency Trials including Interviews; cross examination and investigation. We'll provide examples from trials in Juvenile Court to help you to develop your Juvenile Delinquency Practice.

Speakers

Colleen Engineer

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Terri Zimmerman

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

I belong to the Psychic Entertainers Association.

Mary McGary

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST
TBA

Delinquency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: Dependency in the Real World: A Case Study in Complexity, Conflict, and Advocacy

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

TBA

A dependency case determines if a child is dependent on the state due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. This presentation will provide a start-to-finish case study of a complex dependency matter involving motion practice, settlement conference procedure, and significant challenges with high-conflict clients, placement, providers, and case management. The case also raised concerns regarding potential criminal exposure and shall discuss how to represent a dependency client with the specter of criminal charges hanging over the dependency proceedings. The presentation will focus on ethical considerations and practical advocacy strategies that ultimately led to reunification against all odds.

Speakers

Robert Casey

Attorney, Southwestern Legal

Robert Ian Casey is an Arizona attorney whose practice centers on child welfare, representing children and parents in dependency and termination proceedings, as well as handling juvenile delinquency and adult criminal matters. He practices in both trial and appellate courts and works... Read More →

Seth Draper

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Seth Draper has extensive experience in dependency cases at the trial and appellate level.

Jennifer Patterson

Parent Social Worker, Team-Based Parent Representation Program

Jennifer Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. With over 13 years of experience supporting families involved in the child welfare and court systems, she brings extensive knowledge and advocacy to her work. Jennifer... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
TBA

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: Presenting and Challenging Forensic Evidence Ethically

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

TBA

The certainty of laboratory results is often inflated, and shortcomings of a particular test may be completely ignored or minimized by both experts and attorneys. This does a disservice to the court and the pursuit of justice. When encountering technologies that may have some anomalies in a specific case, consulting an expert to help navigate viable alternate interpretations can assist the attorney with their case and can help ensure that the evidence is presented fairly, ethically and in line with the underlying data.

Speakers

Anjali Ranadive

Expert, SciLawForensics

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ANJALI A. RANADIVE Anjali Ranadive is the President of SciLawForensics, Ltd, a forensic science and legal consulting firm in Phoenix, AZ. Ms. Ranadive serves as the DNA Expert Liaison for the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, assisting with post-conviction appeals.Ms. Ranadive is an Advisory Commissioner on the American... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
TBA

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

The ABCs of EDC (Pre-Arraignment Court)

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

TBA

Join this discussion about the ethical issues that arise in EDC, all of which may also limit ability to conduct thorough conflict checks, defense investigations and negotiations. We'll discuss how to provide expert representation when we are presented with limited discovery, given a short time to discuss issues with clients, advise clients on decisions to be made before the plea offer expires, and conduct Donald advisements and preliminary hearings. This course is good for attorneys in trial group to learn why and how cases resolve in EDC, as well as attorneys in EDC to learn how you can best prepare a case to go to trial group.

Speakers

Allyson Primack

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Allyson has been an attorney with the criminal justice system in Maricopa Co. for over 20 years. She has spent the last four years with the Maricopa Co. of Legal Defender in their EDC Bureau. Prior to that, she spent 15 years with the Maricopa Co. of Public Defender in trial group... Read More →

Kaitlin Goodman

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Kaitlin Goodman is currently at the Legal Defender and has worked in indigent criminal defense for 13 years, the past 6 in RCC/EDC.

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
TBA

Pre-arraignment

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: The Ethics of Owning and Running Your Own Practice

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

TBA

This course will be focused on potential ethical pitfalls of running a private law firm, especially targeted at indigent defense attorneys who are moving into the private sector for the first time. Particular focus will be on marketing, trust accounting, and managing client relationships.

Speakers

Omer Gurion

Attorney, Gurion Legal

Omer Gurion is a board-certified criminal law specialist in private practice practicing criminal defense. He has been in practice in Arizona for 15 years and has experience in government, private practice, and as a law firm owner.