APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

arrow_back View All Dates

8:15am MST

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

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

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-trial strategizing, and the benefits that flow from active trial work.

Faculty

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
Joshua Tree

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Litigating Delay: Pre-Indictment, Post-Indictment, and Sentencing

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

Augustine

This course will cover the basics of what you need to know about pre and post-indictment delay. There will also be a discussion of potential updates in the area of sentencing delay given the right to a speedy trial no longer applies post-conviction.

Faculty

Jesse Turner

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

I have 20 years of experience at the Maricopa County Public defender's Office, the last 9 in appeals.

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Prepare to Win: Pre-Trial Preparation

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

Abbey

This class is designed for the purposeful, experienced attorney who approaches litigation with clarity, strategy, and relentless focus on results. It delivers a practical framework for mastering pre-trial preparation, from aggressive discovery tactics to thorough investigation, effective client and witness interviews, and precise witness preparation. Participants will refine the skills needed to build stronger cases, anticipate opposition, and enter trial fully prepared to win.

Faculty

Carissa Jakobe

Attorney, Law Office of Carissa A. Jakobe

Carissa has practiced criminal defense for 21 years as of August 2005, beginning at the Maricopa Co. Public Defender and Legal Defender. She opened a private practice in 2012, but the love of her life is indigent defense. Carissa's focus is major felony cases at the trial level, as... Read More →

Christopher Doran

Attorney, Doran Justice

Chris Doran has been a practicing attorney in the Phoenix area for 10.5 years doing primarily private criminal defense work. Chris handles everything from small misdemeanors like urinating in public charges all the way up to first degree murder charges all over the state of Arizona... Read More →

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Easy Editing Techniques for Better Legal Writing

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

Colonnade

You don't need a writing lecture - you need tools you can use right now. This session teaches five fast, practical editing hacks that immediately make your writing clearer and more effective. You'll learn how to use simple Search & Replace patterns to fix passive voice, cut clutter, strengthen verbs, and improve clarity. These techniques are fast, easy to learn, and designed for lawyers who want to write better but don't have time to work on it.

Faculty

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 →

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Bounty Law

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

Jokake

The ins and outs of extradition law along with information about the Interstate Agreement on Detainers.

Faculty

Catherine Parker-Williams

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Using Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) in Criminal Prosecutions

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

Dolores

This conversation will explore A.R.S. 12-751, Arizona's law prohibiting Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation ("Anti-SLAPP"), expanded in 2022 to apply in criminal prosecutions as well as civil matters. The statute permits a Motion to Dismiss in response to legal actions which are "substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliate against or prevent the lawful exercise of a constitutional right." We will discuss the statute's requirements, review some examples of its use over the past couple of years, and explore other possible applications in future cases. We hope to facilitate some greater awareness of A.R.S. 12-751's parameters and applications so the IR community can explore more creative ways to make use of its provisions.

Faculty

Danny Evans

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Emily A. Parker

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Emily graduated from ASU Law School in 2022 and spent the next year clerking at the Court of Appeals (Division I) for Judge Furuya. She began her practicing career as an attorney in EDC with the Office of the Public Defender before transitioning to trial group with the Office of the... Read More →

Scott Boncoskey

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

1:30pm MST

3:15pm MST

3:15pm MST

Get help with the event