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: Capital Case Ethics Game Show

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

Annual capital case ethics game show.

Speakers

Erika Warner

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

I have lost count of how long I have practiced law and how long I have been in Capital. I absolutely love OLD and the work that we do.

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Issues and Challenges in Juvenile Competency Reports

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

Juvenile competency in delinquency law determines if a youth has the cognitive maturity and mental capacity to understand proceedings and assist counsel and is a large component of an attorney’s delinquency law practice. This course is a review of the competency process and a consideration of the current issues a defense attorney should be familiar with when defending children in Arizona. It will also explore how to challenge expert reports and conclusions in a contested evidentiary hearing.

Speakers

Jason Max

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Jackie Conley

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Delinquency

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Digital Forensics: Year in Review

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

Surveillance technology and digital forensics issues have exploded over the last year. This course will provide an overview of how state and federal law enforcement agencies are collecting and analyzing digital evidence, and how the courts are addressing these issues.

Speakers

Brian Chase

Managing Director of Digital Forensics, Archer Hall

Brian Chase is the managing director of digital forensics at ArcherHall. He has worked as a criminal defense attorney and a digital forensics expert for over a decade, and has testified in over 45 matters in State, Federal, and Military courts. Brian also serves as an adjunct professor... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Interrogations and False Confessions

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

The course will cover the history of police interrogations, false confessions and the failure of the court to regulate the validity and accuracy of confessions. We'll explore the methods used by police and how they have evolved over the years, the reasons why these police methods are able to obtain confessions and the failure of the court rules to regulate practices that create an undue risk of a false confession.

Speakers

Tim Agan

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Capital PCR attorney

Amy Ellingson

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Investigation

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Your License or Mine: Ethical Responsibilities and Issue for Supervisors and Attorneys in Public Defender Offices

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

Balancing the independence and responsibilities of representation of clients can bechallenging. Managing them is also challenging. The class will examine the dayto day ethical challenges involved in managing attorneys and staff in PublicDefender Offices, balancing them against the responsibilities to your clients. Itwill also address the ethical issues arising from oversight by city and countyadministrators and elected officials. The class will use scenarios to invitediscussion about these challenges and the applicable ethical rules and law thatspeak and offer guidance to them.

Speakers

Gary Pearlmutter

Attorney, Southwest Center for Equal Justice

Wendy White

Attorney, Southwest Center for Equal Justice

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Excel 101 for Paralegals

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

This is an introductory course that explores tools both in and outside of Microsoft Excel that will benefit your practice as a paralegal. Get ready to learn how to use helpful computer shortcuts, excel formulas and data tools, and even plain-text script files. Once you’ve finished this course, you will be able to create links to 100 documents in less than a minute, make 100 folders in less than 5 minutes, and be just a bit more confident in your computer skills than you were before.

Speakers

Tillie Jones

Paralegal, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Professional Development

8:15am MST

Sexual Normalcy and Highlights of Recent Caselaw

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

TBA

We'll discuss how to use the defense of sexual normalcy in DCAC cases, proffering a defense expert to testify on the admission or preclusion on sexual normalcy, challenging the state expert's evaluation of client, and analyzing appellate issues that arose in State v Jennings, (expert allowed), and State v Harnage (expert denied).

Speakers

Erin Sutherland

Attorney, Pima Co. Public Defense Services

Graduate of the University of Arizona James E Rogers College of Law, 2009; admitted to the State Bar of Arizona, 2010. Practical experience as a Rule 38(d) attorney in the University of Arizona Criminal Defense Clinic, 2009, and as a law clerk 2008 to 2010, and lead law clerk, 2010... Read More →

Tatiana Struthers

Attorney, Pima Co. Public Defense Services

Pima County felony trial team supervisor, highly experienced attorney, and frequent child pornography trial litigator (State v. Mixton, State v. Martinez, State v. Ortega (appeal pending), State v. Fields (Chase), State v. Lopez, State v. Harnage (appeal pending)).

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Sex Crimes

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Challenging Jury Panel Composition in Capital Cases

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

We'll present information on raising constitutional claims regarding the composition of the jury venire, making a record to preserve the issue for later litigation.

Speakers

Katie Krejci

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Katie Krejci is an attorney with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. She earned her J.D. in 2014 from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and has spent her career litigating criminal cases on behalf of indigent defendants. Since 2017, Katie... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Search and Seizure Law

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

Updates on this often challenged body of law.

Speakers

Nicki Sordello

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Nicki Sordello is an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office, where she has been practicing law since 2020.

Jeff Roth

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Case Law

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Nothing Is Insurmountable!

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

The challenges in the Redondo case seemed insurmountable: the facts were egregious, and client had previously pled to a different homicide, refused to sign releases of information, and was excluded from the courtroom due to his behavior. Despite these obstacles, defense counsel was able to get the mitigation evidence in, raise racial profiling, and use departmental regulations to the client’s advantage. This story from a colleague will inspire you to tap into your own creativity and perseverance to do this important work.

Speakers

Dan Raynak

Attorney, Raynak Law

Will be 41 years practicing criminal law as of May of this year.

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Courtroom Advocacy

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Navigating the Educational System for Delinquent and Dependent Youth

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

Education for delinquent youth focuses on rehabilitation through specialized academic, vocational, and behavioral programs to reduce recidivism and foster successful reintegration We'll provide a review of educational options within the Department of Child Safety (DCS) and Delinquency realms; including alternative school options, trade programs, GED programs, and benefits for delinquent/dependent youth.

Speakers

Ektaa Prasher

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Ektaa Prasher, Children’s Attorney with the Office of the Legal Advocate since 2019. Ektaa started off at the AGO with Andrea in 2017 then went on to work at OPA Mental Health in 2019. While in law school, Ektaa worked with two OPDS attorneys and did social work for them for a few... Read More →

Andrea Anderson

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Andrea started her legal career at the Attorney General’s Office in the Protective Services Division with Ektaa in 2017. While there, Andrea had the opportunity to handle dual ward matters for dependent and delinquent youth, which prompted her interest in delinquency defense. Prior... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Delinquency

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Opposing the Prosecutor's Firearm and Toolmark "Matching" Evidence and Testimony: How to Fight It, Limit It, and Make a Solid Record

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

If your case has evidence of firearms "matching", this course will provide crucial information and a simple step-by=step process to challenge this dubious and unscientific evidence.

Speakers

Tom Glow

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Tom represents clients who are facing the death penalty. He has been a lawyer fo over 30 years. Yowch.

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Lights, Camera, Ethics! Memorable Film Scenes and Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas They Spark

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

Join us for popcorn, movie magic, and a dive into ethics through the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct. We’ll break down memorable film scenes and explore the ethical dilemmas they spark—all while earning up to 1.5 hours of ethics credit.

Speakers

Amanda Lauer

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Amanda is a trial attorney who has practiced in Arizona for over 20 years. The bulk of her career has focused on parental defense in CPS cases, and she has spent the past three years practicing criminal defense for indigent clients. She has taught CLEs both locally and nationally... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Catching the Snakes: Using COBRA Data to Defend DUIs

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

Learn what COBRA data is, where to find such data, and why it could be applicable to cases. The class is intended to provide practical solutions including pre-trial practice to build reasonable doubt in Intoxilyzer 8000 and 9000 cases.

Speakers

Greg Benson

Attorney, Chris Millar Law

David Salazar

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Vehicular

CLE Hours 1.5

1:00pm MST

ETHICS: The ERs of AI

Friday June 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm MST

TBA

ETHICS: Generative artificial intelligence may be the shiny new thing, but be cautious and mindful of the ethical rules when using it. What’s gotten some lawyers into trouble and how can you avoid problems? Also, learn about the new ER 3.3 obligation to investigate suspected deepfake evidence.

Speakers

Patricia Sallen

Attorney, Ethics at Law

Patricia A. Sallen is a lawyer in private practice focusing on professional responsibility. She represents lawyers in discipline and admission matters, provides ethics advice to lawyers, serves as an expert witness on professional-responsibility issues, and consults on a myriad of... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm MST
TBA

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

2:45pm MST

ETHICS: Dark Humor The Ethics of Coping

Friday June 19, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm MST

TBA

Trigger Warning: This class does contain dark humor, that may or may not be funny.

Practicing law can be heavy, the stakes are real, and sometimes the only thing standing between an attorney and burnout is a well-timed, ethically appropriate laugh. This CLE explores how lawyers cope with trauma through humor—what’s healthy, what’s risky, and what crosses the ethical line—while grounding the discussion firmly in professional responsibility, client dignity, confidentiality, and courtroom decorum. Attendees will examine when humor can be critical in relieving a mental pressure valve and when it can become a professional liability. Equal parts candid, thoughtful, and self-aware, this course reminds attorneys that coping is human—but ethics are non-negotiable.

Speakers

Kacie Nickel

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Kacie Nickel has been an attorney with the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office for over eight years. She has worked in Early Disposition Court, the Trial Group, and currently serves in the Specialty Court Unit, where she assists clients navigating therapeutic courts. Kacie... Read More →

Madison Best

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Madison Best first started at the public defender's officer as an extern while in law school. After graduating from ASU Law in May 2018, she worked as a clerk until she passed the bar and joined the office as an attorney. Over the last seven years she has worked at the office defending... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm MST
TBA

Professional Development