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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TBA

WELCOME LETTER WITH ALL HELPFUL INFORMATION INCLUDING PARKING, INTERNET, COURSE SCHEDULE, CLE, HOTEL MAP, AWARDS LUNCHEON AND SOCIAL EVENTS CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE

Friday June 19, 2026 TBA

7:45am MST

Friday Check in - Get your badge scanned in the ballroom foyer

Friday June 19, 2026 7:45am - 5:00pm MST

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Capital Case Ethics Game Show

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

Abbey

Annual capital case ethics game show.

Faculty

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
Abbey

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

San Pedro

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.

Faculty

Lori Leon

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

With more than 16 years of experience as a juvenile public defender, I have dedicated my career to advocating for children and protecting their rights within the justice system. I have a passion for youth advocacy and am committed to making a positive impact and ensuring every child... Read More →

Jason Max

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

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

Delinquency

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Digital Forensics: Year in Review

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

Palm Ballroom C&F

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.

Faculty

Brian Chase

Managing Director of Digital Forensics, Archer Hall

Brian Chase is a consultant, expert witness, adjunct professor of law, and attorney. He currently serves as ArcherHall’s Managing Director of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery, where he provides expert testimony, teaches 100+ CLEs a year, and manages their team of over a dozen experts... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
Palm Ballroom C&F

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Interrogations and False Confessions

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

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.

Faculty

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
Palm Ballroom A&D

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

Joshua Tree

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.

Faculty

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
Joshua Tree

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

Dolores

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.

Faculty

Tillie Jones

Paralegal, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

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

Professional Development

8:15am MST

Sexual Normalcy and Highlights of Recent Caselaw

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

Xavier

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).

Faculty

Erin Sutherland

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Erin Sutherland is an appellate attorney at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office where she has also taken on the roles of Training Director and Law Clerk/Intern Supervisor. While attending law school at the University of Arizona, Erin began her career in indigent defense in... Read More →

Tatiana Struthers

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Pima Co. Indigent Defense 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
Xavier

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

Abbey

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.

Faculty

Katie Krejci

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Katie Krejci is an attorney with the Maricopa Co. Public Defender’s . 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 has... Read More →

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Search and Seizure Law

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

Updates on this often challenged body of law.

Faculty

Nicki Sordello

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Nicki Sordello is an attorney at the Maricopa Co. 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
Palm Ballroom A&D

Case Law

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Nothing Is Insurmountable!

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

Dolores

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.

Faculty

Dan Raynak

Attorney, Daniel R. Raynak P.C.

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

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

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

Joshua Tree

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.

Faculty

Ektaa Prasher

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Ektaa Prasher, Children’s Attorney with the 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 PDS attorneys and did social work for them for a few years... 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
Joshua Tree

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

San Pedro

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.

Faculty

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
San Pedro

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

Palm Ballroom C&F

Join us for popcorn, movie magic, and a dive into ethics through the Arizona Rules of Professional Conduct.

Faculty

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.In... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
Palm Ballroom C&F

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

Xavier

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.

Faculty

Greg Benson

Attorney, Chris Millar Law

David Salazar

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Vehicular

CLE Hours 1.5

1:00pm MST

ETHICS: The ERs of AI

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

Palm Ballroom B&E

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.

Faculty

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
Palm Ballroom B&E

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

Palm Ballroom B&E

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.

Faculty

Kacie Nickel

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Kacie Nickel has been an attorney with the Maricopa Co. Public Defender’s 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 has a particular... Read More →

Madison Best

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Madison Best first started at the public Defender r 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 as an attorney. Over the last seven years she has worked at the defending all levels of felony... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 2:45pm - 4:15pm MST
Palm Ballroom B&E

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

TBA

7:45am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

10:00am MST

1:00pm MST

2:45pm MST

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