2026 Summer Public Defense Conference: Full Schedule

3:45pm EDT

Forensics on Trial: Challenging the Science Behind the State’s Case

LIMITED

Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT

CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOOR

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Mary Dayton

Monday July 20, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm EDT
CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOOR

ATTORNEY INVESTIGATOR

2:30pm EDT

Case Law and Statutory Changes Update

LIMITED

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOOR

Limited Capacity seats available

Update focusing on new legislation from this years legislative sessions. Additionally, will focus on important (or at least interesting) cases from the Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court of Georgia, and the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia.

Statutory Law Update-First Offender records restriction at the time of sentencing, a new crime for gift card fraud, new ways to remove District Attorneys, enhanced punishments for pimping and pandering, a new crime for "Improper Sexual Contact by a Clergy Member," rules for AI Chatbots/Companions, a new path forward for terms of court (at least in the Cordele Judicial Circuit), feral hog chaos, credit for time served on probation revocations, a new official heritage horse breed, and more!!!

Case Law Update-Issue of First Impression-How to preserve error when a witness answers a question before a sustained objection. Good caselaw for issues dealing with motions to arrest judgment, challenging date ranges in indictments, prior violent acts of the alleged victim (in self-defense cases), prospective waivers of revocation hearings, and more!!! Bad caselaw for felony murder, prosecutors using AI, the broken post conviction system in Georgia, and more!!!. Information on how to preserve error on appeal for jury charges, motions for mistrial, requests for written orders on immunity motions, and more!!!

Speakers

Jonathan Lockwood

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... Read More →

Law Update 2026 Public Defender Seminar pptx

Case and Statuotry Update July 2026 docx

Tuesday July 21, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOOR

ATTORNEY