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.

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.

Gary Beren

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Protecting the Rights of Disabled Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings

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

Abbey

This presentation reviews the history and legal framework of the Americans with disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 as they apply to dependency cases, which allege that a child is neglected, abused, or without proper parental care. We'll provide practical strategies for advocating for reasonable accommodations for parents with Intellectual Disability Diagnosis (IDD), including guidance on filing appropriate motions. The presentation also explores legal remedies when the Department of Child Services (DCS) fails to meet its obligations under these laws, as well as the ethical considerations involved in representing parents with IDD.

Faculty

Maryvonne Harbulot

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

I have been practicing law for 22 years and have spent the last 7 years representing parents in dependency matters. Helping families navigate some of the most challenging times in their lives is incredibly meaningful to me, and I am passionate about finding creative and effective... Read More →

Denise Carroll

Attorney, Law Office of Denise L. Carroll

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

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

First Impact: A Crash Course in Vehicular Homicides and Aggravated Assaults

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

Abbey

Apresentation focusing on a general introduction to vehicular homicide and aggravated assault cases for attorneys who haven't handled such cases in the past

Faculty

Alfonso Castillo

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

I have been an attorney for 26 years and a public defender for 25 years. I am cradle Catholic but a practicing Catholic for 37 years. I have always been interested in the confluence of Catholic faith and the law. This interest in the interplay between the law and belief led to my... Read More →

Aurelie Couturier

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Vehicular

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Location Data - Is It as Reliable as Police Claim?

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

Abbey

The use of location data by law enforcement continues to grow, but are they using it correctly? This CLE will cover the latest developments in law enforcement use of location data. You'll learn what's right, what's wrong, and how to challenge the data.

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 →

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

Forensics

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

Cellebrite and Cellphone Forensics

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

Abbey

Cellphone data is everywhere. Attorneys need to understand the common issues, where challenges exist, and how to read the data from cellphone downloads. This CLE will cover the frequent legal issues and provide a live demonstration of how to read data from Cellebrite reports.

Faculty

Brian Chase

Managing Director of Digital Forensics, Archer Hall

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

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Psychopharmacology and the Law

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

Abbey

A brief overview of medications used for restoration to competency, forced medications in Title 36 proceedings, and medications that are relevant to recidivism and other criminogenic analysis focusing on long term side effects and industrial externalities.

Faculty

Kai Henderson

Attorney, Navajo Co. Public Defender

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

Mental Health

CLE Hours 1.5

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

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

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

3:15pm MST

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

1:30pm MST

3:15pm MST

8:15am MST

10:00am MST

Get help with the event