APDA Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

8:15am MST

Axon’s AI Integrations and the Future of Police Investigations

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

This course explores Axon’s “AI Era Plan” and its new tools, including Real-Time Translation, Draft One, Axon Assistant, and Policy Chat. It examines how these technologies are transforming police investigations and the potential benefits and risks for defense attorneys and clients. Participants will gain practical strategies for addressing AI use in officer interviews and at trial.

Faculty

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 →

Hannah M. Eaton

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

Hannah graduated from ASU Law School in 2022 and spent the next year clerking at the Court of Appeals (Division I) for Judge Cattani. She also graduated from ASU with her Masters of Social Work, specializing in Children, Youth and Families. She has been an attorney at the Office of... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

10:00am MST

What Every Criminal Defense Lawyer Should Know About Forensic Science

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

We'll discuss key areas of the field of forensic science that are ripe for challenging during the pretrial and trial stages.

Faculty

Josh Cooner

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Defender

JamieLynn Cooner

Professor, Scottsdale Community College

JamieLynn Cooner is the Resident Faculty and Coordinator of the Forensic Science Department and Criminal Justice Studies at Scottsdale Community College. JamieLynn has a Masters of Science in Forensic Science and is completing her dissertation for her Doctorate in Education and Forensic... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Forensics

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

Dependency Updates

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

This course will provide a review of Dependency appellate cases from the past year and any changes to the current rules and statutes.

Faculty

Joseph Ramiro-Shanahan

Attorney, Law Office of Joseph C. Ramiro-Shanahan

Jessica Strain

Attorney, Law Office of Joseph C. Ramiro-Shanahan

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

ETHICS: Representing Children and Parents in Juvenile Court

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

This course will review the duties and responsibilities under the Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile court placed on an attorney representing a child under Rule 306 and an attorney representing a parent under rule 307. We will examine how those responsibilities manifest in real-world situations and how they interact with the rules of professional conduct that apply to both attorneys and staff.

Faculty

Rachel Metelits

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Jeremiah Jensen

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Defender

Erin Bevins

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Legal Advocate

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

10:00am MST

ETHICS: Complex Ethical Issues in Dependency Cases

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

A dependency case is initiated by a state agency (like Child Protective Services) when a child is alleged to be abused, neglected, or abandoned. The court determines if the parent is unable to provide proper care, often resulting in court-ordered services, family supervision, or temporary removal of the child to ensure their safety. Join us for a discussion about the complicated ethical issues that arise in dependency cases, including the scope of Parent and Child Representation, and how to address them.

Faculty

Brian Strickman

Attorney, Strickman Law

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

1:30pm MST

Case Law Update 2025-26

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

An annual review of important cases from Arizona state courts.

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 →

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Case Law

CLE Hours 1.5

3:15pm MST

ETHICS: Dependency in the Real World: A Case Study in Complexity, Conflict, and Advocacy

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

Palm Ballroom A&D

A dependency case determines if a child is dependent on the state due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. This presentation will provide a start-to-finish case study of a complex dependency matter involving motion practice, settlement conference procedure, and significant challenges with high-conflict clients, placement, providers, and case management. The case also raised concerns regarding potential criminal exposure and shall discuss how to represent a dependency client with the specter of criminal charges hanging over the dependency proceedings. The presentation will focus on ethical considerations and practical advocacy strategies that ultimately led to reunification against all odds.

Faculty

Robert Casey

Attorney, Private

Robert Ian Casey is an Arizona attorney whose practice centers on child welfare, representing children and parents in dependency and termination proceedings, as well as handling juvenile delinquency and adult criminal matters. He practices in both trial and appellate courts and works... Read More →

Seth Draper

Attorney, Maricopa Co. Public Advocate

Seth Draper has extensive experience in dependency cases at the trial and appellate level.

Jennifer Patterson

Social Worker, Team-Based Parent Representation Program

Jennifer Patterson holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University. With over 13 years of experience supporting families involved in the child welfare and court systems, she brings extensive knowledge and advocacy to her work. Jennifer... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:15pm - 4:45pm MST
Palm Ballroom A&D

Dependency

CLE Hours 1.5
Ethics hours 1.5

8:15am MST

Interrogations and False Confessions

Friday June 19, 2026 8:15am - 9:45am MST

Palm Ballroom A&D

The course will cover the history of police interrogations, false confessions and the failure of the court to regulate the validity and accuracy of confessions. We'll explore the methods used by police and how they have evolved over the years, the reasons why these police methods are able to obtain confessions and the failure of the court rules to regulate practices that create an undue risk of a false confession.

Faculty