APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

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

This presentation will discuss many of the challenges trial lawyers may experience moving from a pre-conviction caseload to an appellate one. It will also provide tips for lawyers preparing to make the transition to appellate work, and those potentially considering handling appeals and post-conviction relief matters in the future. Finally, it will provide information about the connection between the trial record and appellate work that will aid both sets of practitioners.

Faculty

Ian McCloskey

Attorney, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

I am an Arizona native, a graduate of Arizona State University and the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, and a career public defender. I spent six years in the felony trial unit at the Pima County Public Defender's Office, including four years specializing in... Read More →

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

Appeals

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

That’s InSANE: Limiting the Medical Diagnosis Hearsay Exception in Rape and Strangulation Cases in light of State v. Johnson

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

Ironstone

This course is specific to Sex Crimes Practice.

Faculty

Kevin Brady

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Sex Crimes

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Forensic Firearms Identification

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

Ironstone

The following topics will be discussed: brief overview of relevant firearms terminology, general firearms knowledge for purposes of reconstruction, forensic firearms analysis for purposes of identifying firearms used in gun crimes.

Faculty

Deborah Stonebarger

Expert, Analytic Investigations

I am a criminalistics subject matter expert with 16 years of experience as a criminalist with the California Department of Justice. I was certified in Comprehensive Criminalistics by the American Board of Criminalistics and have expertise in crime scene and evidence collection, biology/DNA... Read More →

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

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Don’t give up: Processing Unexpected and Unfair Losses and Setbacks in Your Legal Practice.

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

Ironstone

The class is an open forum where the panel and attendees will share their personal experiences with unexpected unfair losses and setbacks and discuss their own processes for anticipating and assimilating them in their practice.

Faculty

Alicia Dominguez

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Richard Randall

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

I've been an attorney for 34 years and a public defender for 21 years. I've practiced both civil and criminal law. For the last 9 years my criminal practice has focused on capital litigation. I have written a number of criminal defense- based articles addressing legal and lawyer... Read More →

RJ Parker

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

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

Professional Development

10:00am MST

ETHICS: When Your Criminal Client Becomes a Victim of the Civil System

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

Ironstone

As Criminal or Juvenile attorneys, we often see the intersection of other agencies that have failed or hurt our clients. When does a criminal or DCS case turn into a civil case? This course will explore police brutality cases, sexual assault, and physical abuse cases. This will also explore real-life examples as well as time limits on reporting these types of cases.

Faculty

Caitlin Engstrand

Attorney, National Injury Attorneys

Leland Damner

Private Investigator, Outback Adjusting and Investigating

Leland Damner: Leland is licensed Arizona private investigator. Leland has worked in public defense work and privately as an investigator in civil and criminal cases.

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

Holistic Representation

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Maiden Voyage into PD Work: How to Get the Most Out of Your First Year as a PD Without Burning Out

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

Ironstone

The first year of PD work is overwhelming. Reflecting on the first year has helped us identify strategies to check in with ourselves along the way and we have implemented many of these strategies into our normal practice. We hope to help new attorneys to succeed; and raise awareness of challenges that new attorneys face so those who work with and supervise new attorneys can help them succeed.

Faculty

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 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST
Ironstone

Professional Development

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Investigating, Litigating, and Winning in Post-Conviction Relief

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

Ironstone

Seth Apfel has won relief in post-conviction relief for countless clients in the last few years. Seth will go through the process. This course is valuable regardless of experience level.

Faculty

Seth Apfel

Attorney, Apfel Law Group

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

Appeals

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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