APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

ETHICS: The Benefits and Challenges of Being a Capital Litigator

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

Discussion of the benefits and challenges of being a capital litigator, including ethical issues relating to representation and suggestions for moving forward.

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.

Gary Beren

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
TBA

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Representing Foreign Nationals in Capital Cases

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST

TBA

This session will explore challenges faced by defense teams representing foreign nationals in capital cases, offer strategies for overcoming hurdles, and opportunities to apply International Law.

Speakers

Harriet McCulloch oversees Reprieve’s regional death penalty work. Reprieve works with fellows and partners around the world to save our clients from execution – and in doing so challenges systems of injustice.

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
TBA

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Believe It or Not: Current Issues in Capital Trial Cases

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST

TBA

Teams involved in recent capital trials discuss unexpected or unusual issues that arose during the course of the proceedings, including third-party defenses, defense expert raw data, DNA issues, pretrial witness interviews, juror issues, and more.

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
TBA

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Capital Case Rule Amendments and Issues

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

TBA

Discussion of pending Rule 19.1 amendments, ex parte requests

Speakers

David Euchner

Attorney, Pima Co. Public Defense Services / AACJ

David Euchner is the appellate unit supervisor and resource counsel of the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, professor of practice in criminal law and criminal procedure at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, and the co-author of the Arizona Criminal Practice... Read More →

Kerri Chamberlin

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Kerri L. Chamberlin is the Attorney Supervisor of the Capital PCR Section of the Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate. She has practiced criminal appellate and post-conviction law for 28 years. In addition to supervising Capital PCR attorneys and mitigation specialists, Chamberlin... Read More →

Raquel Centeno-Fequiere

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Raquel Centeno-Fequiere started her legal career as an ADA at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. When she moved to Arizona in 2001 she joined the Maricopa County Office of the Legal Advocate as a defense attorney where she started capital work as a second chair in 2005. In 2011... Read More →

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

OPDS Updates for Capital Cases

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

TBA

Information relating to the capital cases and representation in Maricopa County cases.

Speakers

Rosemarie Pena-Lynch

Director, Maricopa Co. PDS

Steve Koestner

Director, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Representing Veterans In Criminal Cases: A Deeper Dive

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

TBA

Military Veterans undergo an experience far removed from the vast majority of those who sit in judgment of them in the criminal justice system. The military experience, particularly if it involves combat, indelibly shapes the veteran and often has significant causal or mitigating implications. At core, as mandated by Porter v. McCollum, 558 US 30 (2009), the lawyer’s role and obligation in a veteran’s case is to investigate and tell that vet’s story -- to translate this uncommon experience into a human narrative that not only engenders the comprehension of a prosecutor, judge, jury but also evokes their compassion. This practical instruction will assist lawyers by exploring the veteran experience, the "typical" veteran, lawyer-veteran client interaction, acquiring and interpreting military records, interview techniques, and a discussion of an archetypical veteran mitigation brief and sentencing hearing.

Speakers

Art Cody

Director, Center for Veteran Criminal Advocacy

Captain Art Cody, USN (Retired) is the Director of the Center for Veteran Criminal Advocacy. His military career spans over thirty years and he has served worldwide. Art began his career as an Army helicopter pilot followed by a similar role in the Navy Reserve flying for a Strike... Read More →

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Capital Case Law Update

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

TBA

Annual review of court decisions in capital cases.

Speakers

Jennifer Y. Garcia

Attorney, Federal Public Defender

Jennifer Y. Garcia is an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona. She has been an attorney with that office since 2004, and also worked in the office as a legal clerk while attending law school. After... Read More →

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

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

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