APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

The Defender's Toolbox for Public Speaking

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

Explore your potential as a confident and effective speaker with "The Defender's Toolbox for Public Speaking." This is a lively, interactive session that will utilize exercises and approaches to performance that are designed to boost your public speaking skills in a supportive, playful environment. Whether you're gearing up to testify, leading your team, or just looking to spice up your communication abilities, this session is crafted to fit your needs. You'll walk away with useful tools for a variety of speaking settings, a boost to your confidence, and new perspectives on public speaking.

Faculty

Jeni Benavides

Staff, National Association for Public Defense

Jeni Benavides is thrilled to work with the NAPD as an Executive Assistant. She previously served as the Training Coordinator with NAPD helping to organize training events and is excited to now apply those skills to the organization as a whole.

Prior to her work with NAPD her background focused on theatre, education, and activism. Jeni served as the Education Director at a local community theatre, and taught introduction to theatre part time at the University of Kentucky. She earned her bachelor’s in theatre performance... Read More →

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

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Special Action Crash Course

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

Dolores

A general overview of special actions. The course will go over the recently amended rules of procedure for special actions and provide helpful tips. In particular, we will cover when to file, what to file, how to file, and ways to improve the chances the court will take jurisdiction.

Faculty

Grahame McNevin

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Appellate attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office.

Zachary Stern

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Zach is a defense lawyer at the Maricopa County Public Defender's where he has been employed for 4 years. He co-wrote with Grahame an article on Rule 7 changes after 2018. He has (tried to) litigated Rule 7 issues in the court of appeals.

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

Motion Practice

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: Ethics Game Show and Updates

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

Dolores

Join us for a discussion using hypotheticals focusing on ER 1.2-1.4 and a lawyers' willful ignorance of "bad facts".

Faculty

Sarah Howard

Attorney, Yuma Co. Public Defender

Sarah Howard is a law school graduate of Capital University Law School. She brings a multidisciplinary background to legal education, informed by prior military service, public service, and hands-on legal practice across criminal, appellate, and child welfare settings. Before entering... Read More →

Micah Friedman

Attorney, Micah Friedman Law

Shannyn Collins

Attorney, Yuma Co. Public Defender

Shannyn Collins, Deputy Yuma Co. Public DefenderEducation: Bachelor of Arts from Miami University (Ohio), Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)Admitted to practice law in Arizona in 2025As a newly admitted attorney, I have taken the MPRE as well... Read More →

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

Holistic Representation

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Capital Case Rule Amendments and Issues

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

Dolores

Discussion of pending Rule 19.1 amendments and ex parte requests

Faculty

David Euchner

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

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 29 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
Dolores

Capital

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Spanish Words for Defenders Representing Clients from Northern Mexico

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

Dolores

Many of our non-citizen clients are from Northern Mexico which is a cartel stronghold. Learn about the geopolitical history of the area as well as words that are unique to the region.

Faculty

Daisy Bustamante

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Twyla Haggerty

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Twyla has been a bilingual crimmigration attorney in the Pima Co. Indigent Defense Public Defender for four years.

Ariana Adams

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Originally from Florida, Ariana has been an attorney for a year and a half in the Pima County Public Defender's office. She has thrown herself into representing non-citizen clients. Originally from Florida, Ariana has been an attorney for a year and a half in the Pima County Public... Read More →

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

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

ETHICS: The Do's and Don'ts of Juvenile Delinquency Trial Preparation

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

Dolores

In a delinquency case, a child is accused of committing a criminal act. This Couse will discuss preparation for Delinquency Trials including Interviews; cross examination and investigation. We'll provide examples from trials in Juvenile Court to help you to develop your Juvenile Delinquency Practice.

Faculty

Colleen Engineer

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Terri Zimmerman

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

I belong to the Psychic Entertainers Association.

Mary McGary

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

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

Delinquency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Using Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) in Criminal Prosecutions

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

Dolores

This conversation will explore A.R.S. 12-751, Arizona's law prohibiting Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation ("Anti-SLAPP"), expanded in 2022 to apply in criminal prosecutions as well as civil matters. The statute permits a Motion to Dismiss in response to legal actions which are "substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliate against or prevent the lawful exercise of a constitutional right." We will discuss the statute's requirements, review some examples of its use over the past couple of years, and explore other possible applications in future cases. We hope to facilitate some greater awareness of A.R.S. 12-751's parameters and applications so the IR community can explore more creative ways to make use of its provisions.

Faculty

Danny Evans

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Emily A. Parker

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Emily graduated from ASU Law School in 2022 and spent the next year clerking at the Court of Appeals (Division I) for Judge Furuya. She began her practicing career as an attorney in EDC with the Office of the Public Defender before transitioning to trial group with the Office of the... Read More →

Scott Boncoskey

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

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

Motion Practice

CLE 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

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

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

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