Beyond Black History Month
2024-02-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/beyond-black-history-month/
Black excellence extends well beyond February but this month we are proud to set aside time to celebrate it as a community. This Black History Month, DEIJ Meetup speaker, Rachel Lindley, will review the background of Black History Month and highlight the continued work that needs to be done as we speak up and out against racism (in the criminal legal system and beyond). This session will further analyze how we can embrace Black History as American history and answer the question – “How can we create, foster, and cultivate equitable and inclusive spaces in order to to honor Black public defense professionals?”
Join us as we do the work and have the hard conversations in a brave and inclusive space dedicated to honoring the experience of Black people during Black History Month.
Rachel Lindley is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. Prior to joining OPD, they worked in administration for both the judicial and correctional systems in the state of Michigan and Illinois for over 15 years. Rachel has extensive experience in the direct planning, implementation and improvement of policies, procedures and programs that promote access to justice for all members of the public. In her various roles, they worked to implement training and advance awareness of diversity, equity and inclusion and build intentional spaces and a working environment where talented people from a variety of backgrounds could thrive. Rachel is a certified diversity professional through the National Diversity Council and the Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program, and serves as a Faculty Consultant for All Rise (Formerly National Association of Drug Court Professionals). They are exceptionally passionate about training on Implicit Bias, Urban Trauma, Intersectionality, Inclusive Leadership, Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model (TREM), Restorative Justice in the Workplace and SUD & MH Treatment (specifically for marginalized populations).
Our DEIJ Coordinator, Brittany Gail Thomas (BGT), Esq., will moderate.

Unlocking the True Potential of Language Through the Prism of Humanity
2024-02-29 14:00 - 15:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/unlocking-the-true-potential-of-language-through-the-prism-of-humanity/
In our everyday lives, we are constantly exposed to language that devalues and dehumanizes others. We often overlook the consequences of our words on our clients, their families, and even ourselves. Join our webinar to listen to personal stories from individuals who have been affected by dehumanizing language. Additionally, an attorney and mitigation specialist will discuss the importance of using humanizing language, how we can engage in difficult conversations, and how we can shift our perspectives towards our clients just through the language we use. Together, we can change the way our clients are perceived by the system, society, and most importantly, themselves.
Ronda Swenson has an MA in Education with a credential in Sociology & extensive coursework toward completing her Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in the Criminal Justice System. A BA in Sociology with extensive units in Criminal Justice. As well as hundreds of hours of continued education training in multiple fields and topics. Her career includes over twenty-five years in Criminal Defense on adult and juvenile cases, focusing on serious felonies & capital cases at both the state and federal levels. Seventeen + years as a Juvenile Dependency Social Worker/Investigator. As well as three years with the Northern California Innocence Project. Ronda started a social work program at a Public Defender’s Office and is certified as a Paralegal and in Forensic Social Work. She also sits on the advisory board of PJDC & the NAPD Education Committee & CDSW Steering Committee. In addition to working in the criminal defense & juvenile dependency field, she has worked for over thirty years teaching children and adults’ modeling & self-esteem skills. Ronda and her family, provided foster care to adolescent “brothers” of all different races and cultures in her home for twenty years which deeply has impacted how she shows up in her work because she has seen first hand how our systems fail children. Lastly, Ronda is a single mother of a beautiful bi-racial daughter who has been by her side advocating throughout her entire career.

Artie Gonzales is the creative who almost never was. A juvenile-tried-as-an-adult at age 16, he spent 21-years of a Life sentence in the California prison system, eight of which included housing within Pelican Bay’s notorious super-max Solitary Confinement unit. It was here that he evolved past the brutality of his surroundings, as well as the highly political stature he held as a gang leader, committing himself to rehabilitation and non-violence. Released as a model prisoner by the Board of Parole Hearings in 2015, he then dedicated himself to building a new life. Applying the same acumen and intelligence that helped him survive the inhumane conditions of our prison system, he has become a leader in his community, an advocate for legislative reforms, and a member of several social justice organizations. After graduating from a Hollywood-oriented workforce development program, Manifest Works of which he presently resides on the board of directors–he rose through the ranks from production assistant to writer, producer, and author of “The Unseen Shackles.” This article sent reverberations throughout the criminal justice reform arena, and is the basis for what he would later coin the term “Conscious Positioning.”
Additionally, he is the Creator and Executive Producer of the anticipated series, “Lessons From A Lifer,” which seeks to shift the culture between the system-impacted and Society by highlighting universal wisdoms and commonality. His platform challenges preconceived notions about what it means to be “System-Impacted,” and creates a fresh narrative as a new voice for this generation of bold storytellers.

Franky Carrillo is living proof of the power of hope, determination, and optimism. Franky grew up in Lynwood, California, a small suburb of Los Angeles. At the age of 16, he was arrested for murder, tried and convicted as an adult, and sentenced to life in prison. Throughout the entire process, Franky maintained his innocence and devoted his life to proving that the system made a terrible mistake. For twenty years in prison, Franky never lost hope in himself ,the judicial system, or his unwavering faith in humanity. He wrote hundreds of letters requesting assistance, he filed legal briefs on his own, and after 15 years he finally got the attention of a lawyer who believed in him. During the final court hearing, the new evidence was presented and the prosecutors asked the judge to dismiss all charges. On March 16, 2011, after living
through the most unimaginable human experience, he re-emerged as a compassionate man with no animosity ready to live. After his release, Franky graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Sociology. Based on his experience, Franky has become a renowned champion for fairness and justice – both in the judicial system and beyond. He found his voice and civic engagement early on when he joined the state and national campaign to end the death penalty along with other criminal justice reforms. Franky is an elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and chair
of his 52nd assembly district. He’s co-chair of the judicial interview committee. He is also the former Chair of the Los Angeles County Probation Oversight Commission.

Ray Ibarra is a training attorney in California’s Indigent Defense Improvement Division of the Office of the State Public Defender. Prior to this role, he served as a public defender in multiple California counties, Montgomery County, Maryland,and throughout the state of Kentucky. Graduating from Georgetown Law in Washington, DC in 2009 and the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication in 2005, he joined Kentucky’s Department of Public Advocacy in 2011 as an Equal Justice Works Public Defender Corps Fellow specializing in Pretrial Release Litigation. His fourteen years as a public defender there and across California include representation of adults and children at all stages of prosecution, including capital eligible cases. Ray led two different units in Kentucky’s state public defense system, including the new attorney training unit of its Education and Strategic Planning Branch. In addition to being a proud member of the Gideon’s Promise class of 2011, Ray serves on faculty in that program, as well as various trial skills programs. Ray, along with his wife Andrea Kendall, who serves as a Public Defender in Orange County, California, have a combined total of twenty-four years and ten household moves working in public service to build a community of committed and passionate defenders throughout the country.

Investigator Meetup - 03/01/2024 2:00 EST, 1:00 CST - Open Chat
2024-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/87895561683
Hey Investigators,
We understand how things can get stressful, and we’re here to make it better. Our meetup? It’s more of an open conversation—no strict agenda.
It’s Friday, a perfect day to let off steam! Bring your complaints, quirks, and successes. Let’s hang out!

Social Worker Meet-Up: Tuesday edition - 03-05-2024 12:00 EST
2024-03-05 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/81277929417
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
In this special Tuesday edition of our social worker meet-up (for social workers, sentencing advocates, dispositional advocates, mitigation specialists, and others in similar roles) we are going to discuss mitigation theories! There will be a sample scenario reviewed and we will talk about the strength of different theories and why we might select one theory over another. Join the meeting on this special day, Tuesday, March 5!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Investigator Meetup - 03/08/2024 2:00 EST, 1:00 CST - Open Chat
2024-03-08 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/87895561683

Join us for the March 2024 edition of the RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP!
2024-03-12 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/join-us-for-the-march-2024-edition-of-the-racial-justice-meetup/
We will be led by guest meetup speaker, Stephanie Thornton. Stephane is NAPD’s Social Work Training & Resources Coordinator and has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. In honor of Social Work Month, Stephanne will lead us in a historical review and critical discussion about the whitewashing of social work and its impact on racial & social justice. Don’t miss it!

The meetup agenda, speaker bio, and reminders will be posted on the listserv.

Be sure that you don’t miss a Racial Justice Meetup (every second Tuesday of the month) or our discussions by adding our calendar and joining the listserv.

Not on the listserv? Send your request to be added to the racial justice listserv to BGT, DEIJ Coordinator, at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.

See you there!

Investigator Supervisor meetup - Come Join us! 3-13-2024
2024-03-13 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-come-join-us-3-13-2024/
Supervisors, leaders and senior investigators
Please join us next Wednesday for our monthly meetup, bring your concerns, issues and successes!
See you then!

2024 Rise. Resist. Represent. National Public Defense Virtual Conference
2024-03-14 12:30 - 2024-03-16 12:30
2024 Rise. Resist. Represent. National Public Defense Virtual Conference will provide over a dozen topic areas to provide to the wide variety of professions and practice areas in public defense across the country. There will be skills training, but also opportunities to explore innovations, systemic litigation, development research projects – and to network with thousands of colleagues who champion the right to counsel and for the opportunity and dignity of their clients.
See the most current listing of confirmed sessions. More being added daily.
Check out the current schedule – still developing
Check out the outstanding speakers bios

Pricing
Before Jan 29

$75 individual
$50 each ticket – bulk for 5-100
$25 each ticket – bulk for 101 and above

Jan 30-March 1

$100 individual
$75 each ticket – bulk for 5-100
$50 each ticket – bulk for 101 and above

March 2 and after

$125 individual
$100 each ticket – bulk for 5-100
$75 each ticket – bulk for 101 and above

Social Worker Supervisors Meet-Up: Clinical Supervision and Mentorship
2024-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders-us.zoom.us/j/84420649329
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
Plan to join the next supervisors discussion and talk as supervisors in the social work role about this work. The next meeting is scheduled for March 19, 2024 at 10aPDT/11aMDT/12pCDT/1pEDT and the topic for discussion will be about clinical supervision and mentorship. Bring your thoughts, questions, highs, and lows. We’re looking forward to the discussion.
The Supervisor Discussion for those in the Social Work role is jointly facilitated by Kevin Bishop, Michael Moore, and Claudia Dunne.
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.
Kevin Bishop, LCSW, Social Worker Coordinator with The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO);
Michael E. Moore, LMSW, Social Work Supervisor with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice (NY)
Claudia Dunne, LICSW, Director of Social Work & Private Social Service Vendors, Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), CPCS (MA).

Social Worker Meet-Up: Using Mitigation to Challenge the Presentence Investigation Report - 03-20-2024 12:00 EST
2024-03-20 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meet-up-using-mitigation-to-challenge-the-presentence-investigation-report-03-20-2024-1200-est/
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
The presentence investigation report is often a report generated by probation about aspects of our client’s life, but it does not tell the story of the client in the same way mitigation does. How can we use mitigation to challenge the presentence investigation report (whether through our work or representation by the attorney of our work)? How can we ensure mitigation exists and the client’s story is told when a presentence investigation report tells a different story? How can we get creative when a document by probation or the state is telling a rote or one-sided story of our client (including presenting information that is untrue)? These questions will be discussed and explored during this meetup, so bring information from your jurisdiction about presentence investigation reports, how your office handles them, and what you would like to know to creatively introduce mitigation!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Stitching Freedom: Embroidery and Incarceration
2024-03-22 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/stitching-freedom-embroidery-and-incarceration/
This webinar will focus on five hundred years of embroidery and incarceration. Content is drawn from Isabella Rosner’s new zine, Stitching Freedom: Embroidery and Incarceration, published by Common Threads Press. Isabella will be joined by Laura Moseley, founder and head of Common Threads Press, a small, UK-based press that specializes in radical histories of crafts and making.
Isabella Rosner is Curator of the Royal School of Needlework, Research Associate at Witney Antiques and host of the Sew What? podcast.

Isabella is an art historian who studies material culture from the seventeenth through nineteenth century. She specializes in the study of early modern women’s needlework, especially British examples, and schoolgirl samplers across all time periods. Isabella is a 2023 BBC/AHRC New Generation Thinker and has just completed her PhD at King’s College London, where she studied Quaker women’s needle, shell, and wax work before 1800.

Investigator Meetup - 03/22/2024 2:00 EST, 1:00 CST - Abusive Head Trauma: What we know about Shaken Baby Syndrome
2024-03-22 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-03-22-2024-200-est-100-cst-abusive-head-trauma-what-we-know-about-shaken-baby-syndrome/
Hi fellow investigators,
We have a special guest this week, Jessica Curci, RN from Godoy Medical. She’ll be talking about Abusive Head Trauma also known as Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Here’s how they describe it: … Non-accidental trauma cases involving retinal hemorrhages, intracranial bleeding, and cerebral edema are complex and involve several specialty areas of medicine. Our experts will review the medical records and help determine what kinds of experts may be needed. We will assess for mimics, determine the timeline of injury, and provide opinions about causation.
Come Join us,
Jon
P.S. An NAPD staff member will be the host for this session.

Celebrating Women's History Month: Purpose, Passion, and Power!
2024-03-28 13:00 - 14:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/celebrating-womens-history-month-purpose-passion-and-power/
Join us this Women’s History Month for an empowering webinar designed for the fierce and dedicated women in public defense.
Speakers:
Cynthia Roseberry, Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Justice Division, American Civil Liberties Union
Colette Tvedt, Chief Municipal Public Defender, Office of the Municipal Public Defender
Gem Jones, Management Consultant, Currently serving as Arkansas Empathy Network Lead at Dream.org
Chelsea Hawkins, Lead Mitigation Specialist, Kent County Office of the Defender
Lori James-Townes, Executive Director, NAPD
As we navigate through our careers and personal journeys, we often encounter moments that challenge our resolve. This is why our theme, Purpose, Passion, and Power, resonates so deeply within our community.
Even on the toughest days, it is our purpose that sustains us. It’s not just about what we do, but the spirit with which we do it. And yes, while power has been wielded against us, it is also ours to claim and channel towards creating positive change.
As multifaceted women, we bring a spectrum of strengths and perspectives to the table.
This webinar isn’t just a gathering; it’s a celebration of who we are and all that we’ve accomplished. It’s a call to arms for all women in public defense to stand tall, embrace their power, and continue the vital work of shaping a just world.
Save your spot today and be part of this inspiring event where we’ll delve into meaningful discussions, share stories of triumph, and strategize on how to further empower ourselves and our communities.
Together, let’s celebrate our purpose, ignite our passion, and unleash our power.

Investigator Meetup - Open Chat
2024-03-29 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-03-29-2024-open-chat/

Social Worker Meet-Up: Help! I Need an Expert (Witness)
2024-04-03 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/sw-meetup-help-expert/
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
This meetup will discuss how we can brainstorm and identify, consult with, research, and prep expert witnesses with our team. Knowing when an expert witness is needed is one thing, finding one is another, and having team discussions about that need is a third. We will cover these aspects in our discussion so bring your ideas, thoughts, blockages, and resources to this meetup!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Investigator Meetup - 04/05/2024 2:00 EST, 1:00 CST - Open Chat
2024-04-05 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-4-5-2024-open-chat/
Hey Investigators,
We understand how things can get stressful, and we’re here to make it better. Our meetup? It’s more of an open conversation—no strict agenda. It’s Friday, a perfect day to let off steam! Bring your complaints, quirks, and successes. Let’s hang out!
Come join us,
Jon

Transforming Public Defense: Redefining Our Culture, Sustaining Ourselves, Centering Our Clients
2024-04-09 12:00 - 2024-04-12 12:00 | Delamar Hotel, 615 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI, United States
April 9-12, 2024
Traverse City, Michigan Delamar Hotel
March 6 deadline on Room block rate $134 (plus taxes and fees). Click here to reserve rooms. or call 231-947-3700 and reference group code NAPD0424
Pricing before Feb 20, 2024 $700 NAPD Members, $800 Non Members
Pricing Feb 21 and beyond $800 NAPD Members, $900 Non Members
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
Scholarship Application – Due March 1
Check out the current schedule – still developing
Client centered public defense systems recognize that redefining our culture and building systems to support the sustainability and wellbeing of their teams is critical. This leads to higher quality representation, increased retention, and greater recruiting success.
This conference will model an approach to public defense gatherings creating space for the participants to renew their commitment to the work, network and share ideas, and begin drafting plans to bring sustainable, practical solutions back to their organizations.
This conference will focus on the following areas:

Cultivating a culture around wellbeing
Handling challenges related to culture change
Responding to microaggressions and implicit bias
Healing from racial trauma
Developing structured crisis debriefings
Addressing physical and psychological safety in the workplace
Managing toxic workplaces
Creating and maintaining boundaries
Shifting the mindset and adding structure and purpose to self-care
Implementing NAPD’s “10 Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense“

After the conference, we will continue to work together to share progress on our plans and provide support for each other.
NAPD Events and Cancellation Policy

Join us for the April 2024 edition of the RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP!
2024-04-09 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/join-us-for-the-april-2024-edition-of-the-racial-justice-meetup/
We will be led by guest meetup speaker, Bahar Mirhosseni. Bahar will lead us in discussion about public defense, racial justice, and SWANA communities. You definitely don’t want to miss this!

The meetup agenda, speaker bio, and reminders will be posted on the listserv.

Be sure that you don’t miss a Racial Justice Meetup (every second Tuesday of the month) or our discussions by adding our calendar and joining the listserv.

See you there!

Investigator Supervisor meetup
2024-04-10 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup/

Investigator Meetup - Open Chat
2024-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-open-chat-2/

Social Work Meetup TUESDAY Edition on Beginnings and Endings
2024-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-work-meetup-tuesday-edition-on-beginnings-and-endings/
Beginnings and endings of client meetings are a critical part of the relationship building process and help provide supportive closure to the end of the relationship when a case concludes. This intentionality is critical in our work but we do not often talk about it. This meetup will be an open discussion of what we say and how we introduce ourselves when meeting clients for the first time to develop mitigation, and how we promote closure and discuss the end of our working relationship together when the case concludes. Join this special Tuesday meetup!
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Social Worker Supervisors Discussion
2024-04-16 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisors-discussion/
This is the next monthly discussion of supervisors of social workers, dispositional advocates, mitigation specialists, social work interns, alternative sentencing specialists, and others performing the supervisory role for those in the field.
Facilitated by:
Kevin Bishop, LCSW, Social Worker Coordinator with The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (CO)
Michael E. Moore, LMSW, Social Work Supervisor with The Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Practice (NY)
Claudia Dunne, LICSW, Director of Social Work & Private Social Service Vendors, Youth Advocacy Division (YAD), CPCS (MA).

Investigator Meetup - Open Chat
2024-04-19 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-open-chat-3/

Virtual Event - Mastering Public Defense Workloads Strategies: Through Practical Learning Labs
2024-04-19 16:00 - 17:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/virtual-event-mastering-public-defense-strategies-through-practical-learning-labs-2/
Featuring (in alphabetical order)
Robert Boruchowitz, Professor at Seattle University School of Law and Former Director of The Defender Association
Heather Cessna, Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services
Kawan Clinton, Deputy Attorney in Charge of Manhattan Criminal Defense Practice at the Legal Aid Society
Danny Engelberg, Chief District Defender, New Orleans
Mary Fox, Missouri State Public Defender Director
Molly Gilbert, Investigator & President of a Union Chapter of both Line Attorneys and Staff, KCDPD/SEIU, Seattle, WA
Stephen Hanlon
Mano Raju, San Francisco Public Defender
The National Association for Public Defense is proud to present a comprehensive 90-minute program designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in the field. Through a unique learning lab model, our expert presenters will deliver concise 10–15-minute demonstrations, providing you with practical insights and strategies for effective public defense. Note: There will be two-40 minute sessions.
Join us as we dive into the intricacies of the profession, equipping you with valuable “how-to” techniques that can transform the way you navigate the boardrooms, courtroom, budget presentations, and more. From preparing compelling written press releases to leveraging the newly released workload study and data to increase capacity and/or funding, this program promises to empower you with the tools necessary for success.
Don’t miss this opportunity to advance your career in public defense. Register now for our immersive learning lab experience: “Mastering Public Defense Strategies.”
NAPD is committed to supporting members as they develop responses to the ongoing crises of excessive workload, threats to independence, inadequate compensation, and staff attrition. The publication of the new National Public Defense Workload Study provides a great opportunity to transform the conversation about public defense and can be a catalyst for significant change.
As NAPD said when the study was released, this milestone “study gives public defenders across the country, including in your community, a tool for evaluating current personnel needs. When compared to local data, the study’s recommendations are likely to show that the demands of mass criminalization far outstrip the supply of available defenders.”
NAPD’s Workload Committee is organizing this Learning Lab to provide defenders an opportunity to discuss how to use the Study to advocate for additional funding and for the expansion of diversion programs that can reduce the demand for appointed counsel. Topics for discussion will include how to develop and present a budget request, how to support requests for additional funding, how to work with community partners to develop political support, and how to prepare op-eds and press releases about key elements of defenders’ needs. In addition, there will be discussion on how to determine whether and when to declare unavailability to accept additional cases and how to prepare for possible motions or other litigation related to workload. There will be plenty of opportunities to share ideas in small group settings and to request assistance from Workload Committee members after the Learning Lab ends.
The Workload Committee members include current and former defender managers from across the country from a variety of types of defender programs and are familiar with NAPD policy statements and national standards, including the ABA’s Eight Guidelines of Public Defense Related to Excessive Workloads. They have offered to provide advice to defenders facing workload challenges.
Learning Lab Format:
This 90-minute program will have two 40-minute sessions. The model being utilized is a learning lab. Presenters will provide a 10–15-minute presentation that provides participants with a “how-to” demonstration. A learning lab can be defined as a hands-on interactive session where participants actively engage in practical exercises or experiments to enhance their learning experience.

DEI advocates, JOIN US our April 2024 edition of the DEIJ+ MEETUP!
2024-04-24 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/dei-advocates-join-us-our-april-2024-edition-of-the-deij-meetup/
We will be led by meetup speaker, Christina Tavares. Christina will lead us in a candid conversation about DEI work – Naming It, Working Through It, & Keeping Community. Come ready to engage and brainstorm! You’ll regret missing it!

The meetup agenda, speaker bio, and reminders will be posted on the listserv.

Be sure that you don’t miss a Racial Justice Meetup (every fourth Wednesday of the month) or our discussions by adding our calendar and joining the listserv.

Not on the listserv? Send your request to be added to the DEIJ listserv to BGT, DEIJ Coordinator, at Brittanygt@publicdefenders.us.

See you soon, DEIJ!

Investigator Meetup - Open Chat
2024-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-open-chat-4/

Social Worker Meet-Up: Social Work Meetup on Participatory Defense
2024-05-01 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-meet-up-social-work-meetup-on-participatory-defense/
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
Have you heard of or used participatory defense? Check out this brief video overview by Raj Jayadev that explains the importance of participatory defense and how it can empower families and community members in court with their loved one. https://youtu.be/3o-2K0FuQEE?si=MYKrhhP0qwzV5SOX During our meetup we will talk about participatory defense, suggesting ways we might use this and how social biographies and inclusion of family and community members can be helpful for the mitigation process.
Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.

Investigator Meetup - Open Chat
2024-05-03 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-open-chat-5/

The Changemakers Forum: NAPD Strategic Exchange
2024-05-07 - 2024-05-10 | Salt Lake Legal Defender Association, 275 East 200 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 84111
May 7 (noon start) – May 10 (1 pm end time), 2024
Applications have closed – We will make selections by Feb 20.
Salt Lake Legal Defender Association
275 East 200 South
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Audience – This event is open to innovators and leaders of all types. We are looking for a wide variety of experiences in public defense through our application process. If this event sounds like something you’d like to be a part of – you are someone we are looking for. Please apply to join us.
The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) cordially invites innovators and leaders in public defense to our strategic leadership Forum. This event will provide a platform to discuss and address the most pressing challenges facing the field of public defense today, such as workloads, retention, independence, and other key issues defined in the ABA’s newly revised 10 principles.
We’re reinventing the conventional institute format to create an interactive, collaborative experience. While we’ll still host a few critical plenaries, we’re excited to introduce two fresh formats.

Spark Presentations: Engage with thought leaders as they share their insights and innovative ideas in 5-10 minute, impactful talks. This is your chance to hear directly from those in the trenches about strategies and solutions they have found effective.
Open Space Sessions: A participatory and organic approach where attendees are invited to brainstorm and create actionable plans for the issues they are most passionate about. These sessions will foster dynamic discussions and collaboration, promoting a creative exchange of ideas that will inform and inspire.

Strategic Action Planning and Expert Consultations:
To ensure that the insights gained don’t merely remain theoretical, the forum will also include guidance from experts to assist in crafting executable plans. Attendees will not only gain knowledge but will leave with well-defined, actionable strategies, bridging the divide between conceptual understanding and real-world applicability. This holistic approach guarantees that our Forum isn’t just another conference—it’s a launchpad for effective and meaningful initiatives in public defense.
Registration and Cost
In an effort to democratize participation, we kindly ask all attendees to cover their own registration and travel costs. This approach enables us to focus our resources on providing a high-quality event and generating maximum value for all participants.
Nevertheless, we remain committed to inclusivity and ensuring that all who wish to participate have the opportunity. For this reason, we are pleased to offer scholarships for individuals who wish to present a Spark presentation or who may not be able to afford to attend..
The NAPD Leadership Forum is more than an event – it is an opportunity for leaders in public defense to come together to confront our greatest challenges, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful change. We look forward to your participation and to shaping the future of public defense together.

Investigator Supervisor meetup
2024-05-08 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-2/
