APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

How to Obtain Legal Services for Your Indigent Client

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

The presentation will discuss the standards and methods for obtaining expert, investigative, and mitigation resources to help you defend your indigent clients. We will survey different processes from around the state and discuss what you can do to better your chances of having your request for an expert approved.

Faculty

Michael Bernays

Attorney, Maricopa Co. PDS

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

Holistic Representation

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Immigration

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

Jokake

This course will discuss the current landscape of Immigration bonds, habeas, and writs following the fallout from the decision in the matter of Yajure Hurtado, 29 I&N Dec. 216 (BIA 2025). It will explore possible ways to bring your client back to court to complete their criminal case. It will discuss who is currently eligible and not eligible for immigration bonds and the filing of federal habeas claims and writs

Faculty

Keith Hilzendeger

Attorney, Federal Public Defender

Keith has been a lawyer with the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Arizona since 2008, and has handled direct criminal appeals and state and federal postconviction proceedings on behalf of both state and federal prisoners.

Michael Neufeld

Attorney, Neufeld Law Firm

Michael Neufeld of the Neufeld Law Firm PLC splits his practice evenly between Immigration and Criminal law focusing on the interplay between the two. He is the Chariman of the State Bar of Arizona Criminal Justice Section executive counsel. He previously served as Chairman of the... Read More →

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

Immigration

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Humanizing Our Clients Through Mitigation

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

Jokake

Over 90% of defendants plead or are convicted at trial. Given these statistics, there is no question that sentencing is the most important event in a criminal case. Getting our clients the best possible outcome at sentencing means presenting their story in the most compelling way to make a judge care. This translates to mitigation not just being necessary, but perhaps the most important part of a defense attorney’s job from day one. This presentation will provide an overview of how to collect mitigation in each of your client’s cases, as well as how to package it altogether to tell a compelling story.

Faculty

Teresa Boden

Mitigation Specialist, Pima Co. Indigent Defense

Teresa has been with the Legal Defender for three years. She works directly with clients to develop their social histories. She is particularly skilled at getting clients to open up and tell the most difficult aspects of their personal stories. Teresa takes that information and produces... Read More →

Cynthia Yializis

Attorney, Federal Public Defender

Cynthia Yializis is an assistant federal public defender for the District of Arizona in Tucson. Cynthia joined this office in March 2024, after having worked as an assistant public defender for Pima County for ten years. Prior to starting her career in indigent defense, Cynthia practiced... Read More →

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

Mitigation

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

Representing Clients in Clemency and Parole Cases

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

Jokake

The clemency and parole process may be the last resort for many people to obtain relief / release from incarceration. This session will focus on: (1) determining eligibility for clemency and parole, (2) preparing for these hearings, (3) representation in these hearings before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency and what to expect, (4) the importance of a release plan, and (5) strategies if your case is recommended to the Governor.

Faculty

Katie Puzauskas

Attorney, Arizona Justice Project

Katie Puzauskas is the Development and Legal Strategy Coordinator for the Arizona Justice Project. Katie has been involved in post-conviction advocacy and litigation for more than 16 years, working with the Arizona Justice Project and as Legal Supervising Attorney for the ASU Law... Read More →

Tansha Harrell

Social Worker, Arizona Justice Project

Susan Stodola

Expert, Board of Executive Clemency

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

Appeals

CLE Hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Representing Veterans In Criminal Cases: A Deeper Dive

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

Jokake

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.

Faculty

Art Cody

Attorney, 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
Jokake

Capital