2026 Summer Public Defense Conference

2026 Summer Public Defense Conference

12:00pm EDT

CONFERENCE CHECK IN & Badge Pickup UGA CHAPEL

1:20pm EDT

Welcome & Hot Off the Bench: Trends, Decisions, and What They Mean for Public Defenders. UGA CHAPELGPDC Leadership • Justice Verda Colvin

2:20pm EDT

The F-Word: Giving the GIFT of Feedback UGA CHAPELAma Agyapong

3:20pm EDT

Transition to Law School Campus Conference Information and Swag Pickup UGA LAW SCHOOL ATRIUM

3:45pm EDT

JCATS Reports & Excel CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORDestiny Byrd

May the Best Story Win: Persuasive Use of Themes and Storytelling in Opening Statements CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORKyle Obiora

Resilient by Design: Thriving in Public Defense CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORJennifer Cooley

Forensics on Trial: Challenging the Science Behind the State’s Case CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORMary Dayton

Forensics on Trial: Challenging the Science Behind the State’s Case (broadcast) CLASSROOM D, E, & HMary Dayton SB 440 & Transfer: Getting Involved Early to Keep Kids in Juvenile Court CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORRachel Gordon

Capital Mitigation DUNLAPSarah Heurich

The Three Rs of Storytelling CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOORDoug Passon

Best Practices for Investigators: Sharing expertise across circuits CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORShaveena Rogers • Gail Ivey

8:00am EDT

COFFEE & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST LAW SCHOOL CAFE

9:00am EDT

Welcome & Remarks UGA CHAPELOmotayo Alli • Tony Waller

9:45am EDT

The Price of Mercy UGA CHAPELEmily Galvin-Almanza

10:45am EDT

BREAK UGA CHAPEL

11:00am EDT

Rooted: Grounded in Work That Can Shake You UGA CHAPELTashun Bowden

12:00pm EDT

From Hello to Farewell UGA CHAPELVera Moore • LaWanda Olney

12:45pm EDT

Transition to Law School Campus

12:55pm EDT

BOX LUNCH LAW SCHOOL CAFE

1:15pm EDT

CPD Meeting TBD

2:30pm EDT

Ethics, Confidentiality, and Operations for Legal Administrators CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORPamela Lockett

404(b) Reloaded: Recent Developments and Defense Strategy CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORDavid Douds

Case Law and Statutory Changes Update CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORJonathan Lockwood

Case Law Update (BROADCAST) CLASSROOM D, E, & HJonathan Lockwood

Experts, Daubert & 702 Weaponized CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORRyan Malone • Charlie Koch

Trauma Informed Care at Every State of the Case CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORGayle Bacon Murray

Cap Def: Building Trust Under Difficult Circumstances: Representing Clients with Serious Mental Health Challanges CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOOR

Capital Mitigation DUNLAPSarah Heurich

Gang Defense Investigations CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORDavid Tealer

3:30pm EDT

BREAK LAW SCHOOL ATRIUM

3:45pm EDT

The Life of a Criminal Case for Non Lawyers CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORLyndsey Hix

Rapid Response Teams: Deploying Resources to Circuits in Need CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORJoy Walker

Voir Dire Straits: Picking a Jury Without Losing Your Mind CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORDavid Tatem

Voir Dire Straits: Picking a Jury Without Losing Your Mind (BROADCAST) CLASSROOM D, E, & HDavid Tatem

War Stories from Veteran Defenders: Lessons from BS decisions and court actions CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORNatalie Glaser • Angela Dillon • Josh Larkey • Arnold Ragas • Kristin Waller

Terabytes and Volumes: How to handle excessive discovery. CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORJackie Tyo • Veronica O'Grady

Capital Defense Track: Topic Title TBD CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOOR

Capital Mitigation DUNLAPSarah Heurich

The Quiet Force-Partners in crime CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORShaveena Rogers • Whitney Hammons

7:00pm EDT

Reception GEORGIA THEATRERECEPTION

8:00am EDT

COFFEE & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST LAW SCHOOL CAFE

9:00am EDT

Defending the Frontlines: Wellbeing and Performance for Public Justice Professionals CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORReinette Arnold, LCSW, MAC, CFVIP, CACTS

Accountability Courts: Legal, Ethical and Practical Consideration for a Public Defender's Office CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOORMichael Syrop

Dignity as Strategy: Humanizing Clients in a Dehumanizing System CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORImani Carter

Attacking VOPs CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORZachary Bowman

Gang Defense Units - Building Expertise (BROADCAST) CLASSROOM D, E, & HShawn Hoover

Georgia Pardons & Paroles: Recent Updates and Practice Impacts CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORLisa Copeland • Jacques Brown • Crystal Moon • Christopher Barnett

The Playbook for Winning a Gang Case CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORShawn Hoover

Capital Mitigation DUNLAPSarah Heurich

Chaos to Clarity: Managing Discovery Without Losing Your Mind CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORCat Vachon

10:00am EDT

BREAK LAW SCHOOL ATRIUM

10:15am EDT

Order in the Court (Files): SharePoint for Case and Team Management CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORVirginia Purdee • Joshua Brockington

Taking JCATS to the Next Level: Practical Skills for Experienced Users CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORSean Kean

Cross Examining Law Enforcement in the Age of Bodycams & AI Enhanced Evidence CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORDaryl Queen

Cross Examining Law Enforcement in the Age of Bodycams & AI Enhanced Evidence (BROADCAST) CLASSROOM D, E, & HDaryl Queen

Drug Dogs & Prolonged Stops: Who let the dogs out? CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORKelly Turner

Plea Negotiations CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORAgis Bray

Capital Defense Track CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOOR

Capital Mitigation DUNLAPSarah Heurich

Title TBD CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORCathy Curry-Smith

11:15am EDT

BREAK LAW SCHOOL ATRIUM

11:25am EDT

Data Lab Workshops CLASSROOM J THIRD FLOORSean Stewart

Strategic Alliances: Working with prosecutors, judges, and advocacy organizations without compromising independence. CLASSROOM F SECOND FLOORJerry Word

You are the Face of Public Defense CLASSROOM I THIRD FLOORDon Plummer

Am I doing this right? Understanding Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, common complaints and understanding how knowing what is expected can improve your practice of criminal defense. CLASSROOM G THIRD FLOORVictor Mireles

Hearsay: What Comes In, What Stays Out, and How to Argue It CLASSROOM A FIRST FLOORKatherine Dodd

Hearsay: What Comes In, What Stays Out, and How to Argue It (BROADCAST) CLASSROOM D, E, & HKatherine Dodd

Not So Fast: Using Interlocutory Appeals to Protect Your Client CLASSROOM B FIRST FLOORPenny Hunter • Sara Meir

How Social Media Effects Our Cases CLASSROOM C SECOND FLOORDoug Belisle

12:25pm EDT

Closing Remarks ALL

2026 Summer Public Defense Conference

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