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

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

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

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 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's 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... Read More →

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

Professional Development