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3:45pm EDT
3:45pm EDT
3:45pm EDT
Forensics on Trial
Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers 
Fact Investigator, Georgia Capital Defender
Emily Powers received her JD in 2008. Emily has been an investigator for sixteen years. She began her career at the Capital Defender as a mitigation specialist, and then transitioned to fact investigation nine years ago. She currently works at both the pre-trial level and in the Capital...
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3:45pm EDT
Forensics on Trial (BROADCAST)
Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers
Fact Investigator, Georgia Capital Defender
Emily Powers received her JD in 2008. Emily has been an investigator for sixteen years. She began her career at the Capital Defender as a mitigation specialist, and then transitioned to fact investigation nine years ago. She currently works at both the pre-trial level and in the Capital...
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3:45pm EDT
SB 440 & Transfer: Getting Involved Early to Keep Kids in Juvenile Court
Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers 
Rachel is a graduate of The University of Michigan and Emory Law School. After finishing law school in 2012, she began her practice as a public defender at the Paulding County Public Defender’s Office. There, she handled misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile court, and a few appeals...
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1:30pm EDT
Q & A With Executive Director Alli
Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT
Speakers 
Omotayo B. Alli, JD, MPA, SPHR is the Executive Director of the Georgia Public Defender Council and leads the agency statewide. An experienced public defender, she brings proven skills to enhance the effectiveness and quality of legal representation for indigent persons. Her goal...
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2:30pm EDT
A Series of Unfortunate Events — Bad Character Evidence in Disguise
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Speakers 
Appellate Attorney, GPDC Appellate Division
David Douds works for the GPDC Appellate Division out of Athens serving multiple circuits in Northeast Georgia. He has been with GPDC for eight years — the first five as a trial attorney in the Coweta and Western Circuits.
David graduated from the Georgia State University of La...
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2:30pm EDT
Case Law and Statutory Changes Update
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Speakers 
Chief Assistant Public Defender, Brunswick Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office
Background: I am a career Public Defender. University of Georgia Class of 2007 (history/philosophy). Washington & Lee University School of Law Class of 2010.From Hagan, GA. Currently, live in Liberty County, GA. Started as an Assistant Public Defender in the Middle Judicial Circuit...
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2:30pm EDT
Case Law Update (BROADCAST)
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Speakers
Chief Assistant Public Defender, Brunswick Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office
Background: I am a career Public Defender. University of Georgia Class of 2007 (history/philosophy). Washington & Lee University School of Law Class of 2010.From Hagan, GA. Currently, live in Liberty County, GA. Started as an Assistant Public Defender in the Middle Judicial Circuit...
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2:30pm EDT
Daubert: Litigating Expert Testimony
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Speakers CK
Assistant Public Defender
Charlie Koch is an Assistant Public Defender in the Macon Judicial Circuit, primarily handling cases in Peach and Crawford counties.
2:30pm EDT
What Happened to You? Trauma‑Informed Advocacy for Youth at Every Stage
Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
Speakers GB
Director, Youth Advocacy Division, Georgia Public Defender Council
Gayle B. Murray is the Director of Youth Advocacy Division for the Georgia Public Defender Council, where she leads statewide initiatives to strengthen juvenile defense practice and elevate the voices of young people in the justice system. A career public defender with nearly three...
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3:45pm EDT
Voir Dire Straits: Picking a Jury Without Losing Your Mind
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers 
David Tatem is the Towaliga Circuit Public Defender, serving Jackson, Lamar, and Monroe counties. David began working with the Georgia Public Defender Agency in 2014, winning a felony trial as a law student at Mercer University School of Law while interning with the Dublin Circuit...
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3:45pm EDT
Voir Dire Straits: Picking a Jury Without Losing Your Mind (BROADCAST)
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers
David Tatem is the Towaliga Circuit Public Defender, serving Jackson, Lamar, and Monroe counties. David began working with the Georgia Public Defender Agency in 2014, winning a felony trial as a law student at Mercer University School of Law while interning with the Dublin Circuit...
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3:45pm EDT
War Stories from Veteran Defenders: Lessons from BS decisions and court actions
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Moderators 
Natalie Glaser is a Deputy Director and the Chief Legal Officer for the Georgia Public Defender Council. Ms. Glaser advises the Agency regarding any legal, policy or legislative matters. She also oversees the Training Division, the Capital Division, the Conflict Division, the Appellate...
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Angela Dillon is 1995 graduate of Emory Law School. After being admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1995, she was in private practice in the Atlanta Metro area specializing in criminal and family law. She has been a contractor for GPDC since 2005 handling appeals and then cases on the...
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Josh Larkey is the Circuit Public Defender for the Waycross Judicial Circuit. A 2004 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, he began his career as a partner in a small law firm in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where he practiced in trial and appellate courts throughout the state...
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Kristin Waller is a native of Indiana, attending Butler University and earning a Bachelor's of Science in Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from the Lacy School of Business in 2000. She was a four-year letter winner in track and field. Seeking better weather, Kristin attended the University...
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3:45pm EDT
Terabytes and Volumes: How to handle excessive discovery.
Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
Speakers JT
Jackie graduated from Emory University School of Law in 2017, and began working with GPDC’s Appellate Division in January 2018. She was a Staff Attorney with the Appellate Division for 4 years, and now handles all conflict-free appeals in the Clayton Judicial Circuit, where she...
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Senior Attorney, Georgia Innocence Project
As a Senior Attorney with the Georgia Innocence Project, Veronica O'Grady analyzes wrongful conviction claims and develops strategies to investigate and present them, often through litigation, while guiding case preparation and evidence review. Before joining Georgia Innocence Project...
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9:00am EDT
Attacking VOPs
Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Speakers ZB
Zach Bowman is a dedicated criminal defense attorney with a strong academic and trial advocacy background. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History from University of South Florida, where he developed a deep appreciation for the legal, political, and historical forces that shape...
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9:00am EDT
Georgia Pardons & Paroles: Recent Updates and Practice Impacts
Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Speakers LC
Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Lisa D. Copeland is a 1993 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a BA in
Criminal Justice. She earned her Master's in Public Safety Administration in 2025 from
Columbus State University. She began her career in the criminal justice system with the Nevada
Division of...
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Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Jacques is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in
Criminology. His career with the Parole Board began as a Parole Officer in the Griffin Parole Office. He
served as a Senior Parole Officer and Specialized Parole Officer where he superv...
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As Director of the Pre-Release Clemency Considerations Division, Crystal L. Moon directs the processes for off ender case preparation and delivering cases to the Board to make informed, scientifi c, data-driven decision-making and ensure all Board decisions are properly implemented...
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9:00am EDT
The Playbook for Winning a Gang Case
Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Speakers 
Roberto “Shawn” Hoover R. Shawn Hoover is the Senior Manager of the Georgia Public Defender Council’s Specialized Unit. Before joining the Specialized Unit he was a trial attorney with the Georgia Capital Defender and was the Southwest Georgia Conflict Defender for the Council...
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9:00am EDT
The Playbook for Winning a Gang Case (BROADCAST)
Wednesday July 22, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
Speakers
Roberto “Shawn” Hoover R. Shawn Hoover is the Senior Manager of the Georgia Public Defender Council’s Specialized Unit. Before joining the Specialized Unit he was a trial attorney with the Georgia Capital Defender and was the Southwest Georgia Conflict Defender for the Council...
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10:15am EDT
10:15am EDT
10:15am EDT
Drug Dogs & Prolonged Stops: Who let the dogs out?
Wednesday July 22, 2026 10:15am - 11:15am EDT
Speakers 
Senior Attorney, Brunswick Judicial Circuit
My State of mind: “Life is hard, misery is optional.”My Attitude: “I Love my job!” My Advice: “If you don’t love your job, get out now while you’re still young. This job will never inspire you to keep fighting if you don’t love it!” Working in the public defenders...
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10:15am EDT
11:25am EDT
11:25am EDT
Not So Fast: Using Interlocutory Appeals to Protect Your Client
Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:25am - 12:25pm EDT
Speakers 
Sara Maier is an Assistant Public Defender in the Enotah Judicial Circuit. She graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2022 and started working in the Enotah Circuit that same year. She practices in superior court and occasionally, juvenile. When not working, she enjoys...
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Circuit Public Defender, Enotah Public Defender's Office
Penny Hunter is a graduate of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia and a 2012 graduate of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. After law school she worked for Strickland, Chesnutt, and Lindsey in Winder, Georgia. In 2013, she was offered an...
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11:25am EDT
Not So Fast: Using Interlocutory Appeals to Protect Your Client
Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:25am - 12:25pm EDT
Speakers
Circuit Public Defender, Enotah Public Defender's Office
Penny Hunter is a graduate of North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia and a 2012 graduate of the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Virginia. After law school she worked for Strickland, Chesnutt, and Lindsey in Winder, Georgia. In 2013, she was offered an...
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Sara Maier is an Assistant Public Defender in the Enotah Judicial Circuit. She graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 2022 and started working in the Enotah Circuit that same year. She practices in superior court and occasionally, juvenile. When not working, she enjoys...
Read More →
