APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

When Justice Isn't Served: Rule 8 and Service Violations

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

When clients are arraigned years after charges were filed or show up with a pile of outstanding warrants from local courts, the reason, more often than we expect, is faulty service. The Arizona Supreme Court requires the State to exercise due diligence in locating the defendant, and most service attempts in Justice and Municipal Courts fail to meet that standard. Courts routinely exclude this time from Rule 8, but these delays are Rule 8 violations when properly argued. This course will teach defenders how to spot service failures, how to investigate and document them, and how to dismiss cases where the delay has exceeded Rule 8 time.

Faculty

Eddie Zakreski

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender- Justice Courts (12/2024-3/2026)- EDC (3/2026- )

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Die or DUI: Challenging Arizona's Arbitrary Limit on Justifications

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

Cavetto

For over two decades, Arizona courts have prevented defendants from asserting defense and necessity justifications if they are charged with offenses outside Title 13, meaning that defendants fleeing domestic violence cannot claim necessity for a DUI, and someone acting under duress has no defense for hunting violations or prison contraband. The restriction is based on a misreading of Arizona's justification statutes in State v. Fell, and this course will provide a roadmap and legal argument for challenging it.

Faculty

Eddie Zakreski

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender- Justice Courts (12/2024-3/2026)- EDC (3/2026- )

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

Vehicular

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Supporting Attorneys with Different Working Styles

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

Cavetto

This course is designed for legal staff and support professionals who work closely with attorneys. The audience will learn how attorneys approach deadlines, feedback, and technology differently, and how to best work side by side with them. Get to know your attorneys' expectations, preferences, and needs so you can best support them. By sharing our own observations and approaches it will help other legal staff and support professionals to create stronger working relationships, clearer communication, and overall get a new perspective.

Faculty

Arleene Ojeda

Staff, Yuma Co. Public Defender

My name is Arleene Ojeda, and I am a Legal Secretary III with the Yuma Co. Public Defender’s . I have been with Yuma Co. for five years. Prior to joining the Public Defender’s , I worked for the Arizona Department of Corrections in Yuma for two years as a secretary to the Major... Read More →

Alba Marron

Staff, Yuma Co. Public Defender

I am a Lead Legal Secretary with the Yuma Co. Public Defender’s and have dedicated ten years to public service with Yuma Co.. I began my career at the Co. Attorney’s , where I worked for two and a half years before transitioning to the Public Defender’s .I am currently a participant... Read More →

Mary Sainz

Staff, Yuma Co. Public Defender

I am a Legal Administrative Specialist with the Public Defender’s in Yuma, Arizona, where I have nearly eight years of experience supporting attorneys. I hold a bachelor’s degree in public administration, and I am currently pursuing a master’s degree. I also serve as a volunteer... Read More →

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

Professional Development

8:15am MST

Prison as a Death Sentence: When the State Incarcerates Your Medically Vulnerable Client

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

Cavetto

This session examines how recent rulings, including Jensen v. Thornell, recognize systemic medical neglect in Arizona prisons and their impact on medically fragile clients. Participants will learn how to use these findings and proportionality arguments to challenge incarceration at sentencing. The course also provides practical tools to preserve the record for future clemency and commutation efforts.

Faculty

Jared Keenan

Attorney, AZ Center for Law in the Public Interest

Jared Keenan is the Executive Director and Chief Litigation Counsel of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, where he engages in impact litigation focused on government accountability, voting rights, and protecting the civil and constitutional rights of Arizonans. He... Read More →

Laila Ikram

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Olivia Hicks

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Olivia is a trial attorney at the Maricopa Co. Public Defender . She has fiercely litigated numerous cases, earning positive plea and trial results. Olivia has unique experience working on high-profile media cases. Most notably she litigated high profile homicide cases. In one case... Read More →

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

Sentencing

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

OPDS Updates for Capital Cases

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

Cavetto

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

Faculty

Rosemarie Pena-Lynch

Director, Maricopa Co. PDS

Steve Koestner

Director, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

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

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Retaining and Managing Experts: The Dos, Don'ts, and Never Agains

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

Cavetto

This course will discuss how to ask the right questions when interviewing the expert, clarify the financial aspect of the agreement with the expert, set parameters for the expert's work, and manage the expert through evaluation, pretrial, and trial.

Faculty

Nikolas Forner

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Alicia Dominguez

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Professional Development

3:15pm MST

The New Dangerousness Trials

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

Cavetto

Learn how this recent change can impact your practice.

Faculty

Sarah Kostick

Chief Assistant Public Defender, Pima County Public Defender

Sarah Kostick has been an attorney with the Pima Public Defender’s since 2014; she has handled all levels of felony matters, including capital cases, as well as Sexually Violent Person commitment proceedings. In July of 2021 she became a supervisor of a felony trial team, and in... Read More →

Adna Zeljkovic

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Ashley Blum

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Courtroom Advocacy

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

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