Blind Spots: Seeing the Bias that Hurts our Clients
2025-11-05 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | https://publicdefenders.us/event/blind-spots-seeing-the-bias-that-hurts-our-clients/
This dynamic and client-centered webinar explores how implicit bias shapes the daily practice of criminal defense. From jury selection to client communication, attorneys make high-stakes decisions influenced by unconscious assumptions. Using research, real-life examples, humor, and strategy, this presentation gives lawyers and nonlawyers practical tools to recognize and interrupt bias-without shame or defensiveness. Teaching Goals . . . To define implicit bias and explain how it differs from racism and prejudice To identify ways bias can affect clients, jurors, and witnesses during representation To apply practical strategies to reduce bias in courtroom decision making and advocacy.
Kenneth Hardin
Kenneth is the founding Executive Director of Harris County’s first Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) Office in Houston, Texas. As the former MAC Director, Kenneth led an office that managed the appointment process and provided holistic services for attorneys qualified to accept misdemeanor appointments in the third largest county in the nation. Prior to his appointment, Kenneth practiced at both the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, TX and his “home” office of the Orleans Public Defender’s Office in New Orleans, LA. Being born and raised Louisiana, he received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) before graduating law school from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston, Texas. Kenneth has handled and tried several cases over his career including but not limited to drug, burglary, robbery, murder, and rape cases. Kenneth is also very active on increasing community awareness regarding the negative implications of mass incarceration. Kenneth was featured on BET’s “the DA versus Black America” in 2016 as well “60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper” in 2017 discussing the impact of underfunded public defender offices. In 2018, Kenneth co-hosted a full day seminar for the NFL and New Orleans Saints on oppression in the criminal justice system and the challenges that public defenders have in changing the narrative. Kenneth is licensed to practice law in Texas, Louisiana, and in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Additionally, Kenneth is recurring faculty for the Harvard Trial Advocacy Program (in Cambridge, Massachusetts), a graduate and recurring faculty at Gideon’s Promise (in Atlanta, Georgia), a former board member for Gideon’s Promise, a graduate of National Criminal Defense College, a graduate of the Louisiana Defender Training Institute, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi. In 2019, Kenneth was the recipient of the Stephen B. Bright Public Defender Award—a national award given annually in recognition to attorneys on their contribution to improving the quality of indigent defense.

Social Worker Meetup: Team Representation
2025-11-12 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/team-representation/
Mitigation specialists, dispositional advisors, sentencing advocates, social workers, and others in similar roles are part of the defense team. However, it is not always clear in all offices or on all teams what role we can or should play on the team. The value and range of skills we can add to the team’s representation is sometimes hidden within our teams and offices; how can we shine a light on our talents and establish our expertise as a valuable member of the team? How can we enhance collaboration across the team in the process? This meetup will discuss these topics and source some ideas from the group to discuss how we are connecting, collaborating, and shining our lights on our skills!
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 Supervisor Meetup - Evaluations
2025-11-12 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-evals-2025-11-12/
Hi investigators in a supervisory role,
it’s the second Wednesday of the month , how do we do write evaluations now that we are the boss? How do give feedback without offending and yet, get them to where they need to be? Let’s chat on how your office handles this process, what forms you use, and how does it effect your investigator’s paycheck too.
See you Wednesday – 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT

Investigator Meetup: -Open Chat
2025-11-14 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-meetup-11-14-2025/
This Friday we will be having an open chat for our meetup. What are your challenges for your position, within your office, your client or just want to run an idea past your fellow investigators throughout the country, come join us!
See you at 2:00 EST 1:00 CST 12:00 MST 11:00 TODAY!

Chronic Health Problems Among Justice-Involved Individuals: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
2025-11-18 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/chronic-health-problems-among-justice-involved-individuals/
Justice-involved individuals are more likely than the general population to experience chronic health problems (e.g., obesity-related health problems, type 2 diabetes, respiratory diseases, and chronic pain). These conditions usually last for prolonged durations and require ongoing medical treatment. Further, chronic health problems frequently have high comorbidity rates with mental health issues (e.g., depression and trauma) and behavioral problems (e.g., substance use). When these conditions go unrecognized or untreated, affected individuals often struggle to maintain employment, care for themselves, navigate the criminal justice system, reenter society, and comply with the conditions of community supervision (i.e., probation and parole). This innovative training is designed to increase awareness about chronic health problems and their consequences in criminal justice settings. Attendees will learn about the causes, risk factors, and common co-occurring conditions for chronic health problems including cognitive deficits (e.g., executive dysfunction), dietary practices, food insecurity, mental health problems (e.g., alexithymia, anxiety, and depression), sedentary behaviors, sleep problems, social isolation, stress, substance misuse, traumatic brain injuries, and other pre-existing conditions. The training will conclude by identifying multidisciplinary, holistic, integrative, and health-promoting screening, intake, intervention, and treatment approaches that can help address the nuanced physical, cognitive, and behavioral health needs of justice-involved individuals. Empirically based research findings are highlighted throughout this training.
Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Dyslexia, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and previously co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

MEETUP MASHUP - DEIJ & Racial Justice
2025-11-18 13:00 - 14:00
DEIJ & Racial Justice Meetups

Join us at this November 2025 Meetup Mashup at 1 p.m. (est) / 12 p.m. (cst) / 11 a.m. (mt)/ 10 a.m. (pst) . Meetup materials and Zoom link will be sent via the listserv.

See you soon!

Social Worker Supervisor Discussion Meetup
2025-11-19 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisor-discussion-meetup-2/
This Meetup is for Supervisors of social workers, mitigation specialists, sentencing advocates, dispositional specialists, and others in similar roles. This is a discussion for supervisors and the topic will be a continuation of last month’s meetup discussion.
Stephanne Thornton, Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator, and Kevin Bishop, Social Work Coordinator with the Alternate Defense Counsel of Colorado

2025 NAPD Women's Virtual Conference: We Are The Ones We've Been Waiting For
2025-11-20 11:30 - 2025-11-21 14:30
CEU APPROVAL: This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886791803-8026) for 6 continuing education contact hours. Please check your state requirements for continuing education credits to ensure you are eligible per your Board. To order a CEU certificate, click HERE.
LATE REGISTRANTS: To join the WVC25 conference as a late registrant after the program has begun on 11/20 or 11/21, please click HERE.

This November, we once again gather for advocacy, encouragement, empowerment, training workshops, development, networking, and renewal.
We gather for community. We gather to support.
This powerful conference is filled with workshops, self-care events, networking, celebration and much, much more. We will acquire knowledge, obtain resources, and make connections that will elevate you to reach your professional and personal goals.
This November, we gather for sisterhood.
This event invites speakers who have been historically marginalized by age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, sexual identity, education, national origin, or any other distinguishing characteristic or trait. The goal of this event is to uplift marginalized perspectives within the public defense community.
This gathering is for all individuals, in all job titles, and practitioners who work or support public defense: attorneys, paralegals, core staff, social workers, trainers, policy advocates, and more. We also encourage and invite law students to join us. NAPD is committed to creating an event in a safe space that brings inspiration and transformation to persons of all gender identities, and for this event, we will specifically amplify female, non-binary, and/or gender non-conforming voices in public defense.
Focus areas returning this year:

Professional Growth & Leadership – sessions that help participants develop their leadership voice or facilitating professional/personal growth
Well-Being and Self-Care – sessions that prioritize wellness and self care within the public defense community
Representing Women, Families, Children – sessions that center around the circumstances, challenges, and celebrations of representing women, families and children
Intersectionality and Connecting Our Stories – sessions amplifying when our voices are marginalized in the communities we serve
Women and Racial Justice – sessions centering around the pursuit of racial justice and equality

Ticket Prices
$100 each for 1-9 attendees
$75 each bulk for 10-25
$50 each bulk for 26-100
$35 each bulk for 101+
Regular ticket sales have closed, but late registrants can register at the link in red above. CEU certificates also remain available through the link above. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket to attend the conference after the start time of the event or have any other questions, please contact events@publicdefenders.us

Here’s the 2025 Schedule

Forensic Neuroscience: A Call on Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health
2025-12-01 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/forensic-neuroscience-a-call-on-criminal-justice-forensic-mental-health/
Forensic Neuroscience: A Call on Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Professionals to Become Informed
At the nexus of neuroscience, criminology, psychology, and the law, forensic neuroscience is the innovative subfield focused on better understanding the role of neural mechanisms (e.g., brain structure and function) in problematic and antisocial behaviors. Specifically, professionals working in this interdisciplinary field apply knowledge and methodologies from neuroscience and related disciplines to elucidate the causes of criminality and other concerning behaviors as well as to better understand the complexities of complex human behavior, head injury, memory, deception, and much more. Work in this field has important implications for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal decisions related to competency, culpability, sentencing, supervision, management, and prevention. Further, forensic neuroscience can help inform intake, screening and assessment, risk management, individualized care planning, treatment decisions, and rehabilitation strategies. Developed for professionals working in criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal settings, this innovative training provides attendees with: (a) a working knowledge of forensic neuroscience research and (b) a framework for applying a forensic neuroscience-informed lens and perspective to the intake, interviewing, screening, and treatment of forensic-based and justice-involved clients. This training is particularly relevant to professionals working with high-risk populations, including:

Criminal and civil defendants

Clients supervised under community supervision (i.e., probation and parole)

Clients in court-ordered treatment and civil commitment

Juvenile justice-involved populations

Clients with dark personality traits (e.g., psychopathy and callous-unemotional traits)

Clients with substance use disorders

Specific offender subtypes (e.g., sexual offending, domestic violence, firesetting, or repeated DUIs)

Treatment-resistant clients

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth fire setting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Dyslexia, Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with ErvWeinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Social Worker Meetup: Advocating when Cognitive Deficits Exist
2025-12-03 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisor-meetup-discussion/
During this social worker meetup we will discuss ways that, as mitigation specialists and social workers (not psychologists), we identify reading and learning comprehension deficits in clients and use that knowledge in mitigation development and advocacy, whether related to comprehension of Miranda, probation conditions, or other terms and conditions of court involvement. What questions do you ask during the client meeting that may shed light on leaning deficits, and what experts do you consult with to discuss comprehension of Miranda or probation terms? These and other aspects will be discussed.
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 Supervisor Meetup - Open Chat - 2:00 ET, 1:00 CT, 12:00 MT, 11:00 PT - LAST one of the year!
2025-12-10 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/investigator-supervisor-meetup-open-chat-200-et-100-ct-1200-mt-1100-pt-last-one-of-the-year/
Hi investigators in a supervisory role,
it will be the second Wednesday of the month , so let’s chat about how things are in your offices, with your cases and clients.
See you Wednesday!
LAST ONE OF THE YEAR!

Fearless Advocacy: Representing Non-Citizens in CRIMINAL Court
2025-12-10 15:00 - 16:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/fearless-advocacy-representing-non-citizens-in-criminal-court/
NOTE: NAPD membership is NOT required to attend. To create a free account to purchase a ticket please go to: https://publicdefenders.us/create-account/
The ongoing attacks on the rule of law and threat of criminal charges against defense lawyers fulfilling their ethical and constitutional duties to represent their noncitizen clients are intended to chill zealous representation. This webinar will educate attorneys about where the legal boundaries lie and how to navigate challenging situations, empowering you to continue your advocacy with confidence. Our expert panelists will explore real-world scenarios and offer practical guidance on how to protect yourself while zealously representing your noncitizen clients.
Kara Hartzler is a senior appellate attorney at the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. Prior to joining the Federal Defenders, she served as the Legal Director and Criminal Immigration Consultant at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona. She has written numerous books and articles on the intersection between criminal and immigration law; served as an adjunct immigration professor; litigated hundreds of immigration and criminal appeals before the Ninth Circuit; and testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration on the detention and deportation of citizens and other due process violations in the immigration system.
Stephanie Alvarez-Jones, Southeast Regional Attorney, National Immigration Project
Jennifer Friedman, Deputy Public Defender, San Francisco Public Defender, Immigration Defense Unit
Jordan Pollock is currently the Specialized Unit Chief at the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, supervising the Appellate, Actual Innocence, Capital Punishment and Immigration units. Before taking on this role, Ms. Pollock was an Immigration Specialist and Supervisor of the
Immigration Unit of the Dallas Public Defender’s office, where she has worked since 2014. Among other duties, Ms. Pollock advises both public defenders and appointed attorneys of the immigration consequences of the criminal charges against non-citizen clients. Ms. Pollock also
serves as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M Law School, where she teaches a course in “crimmigration,” and is vice chair of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s immigration committee. Previously, Ms. Pollock was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Public Counsel in Los
Angeles, where she instituted a Legal Orientation Program at two Orange County detention centers and represented detained immigrants in removal proceedings. She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. with honors from Duke
University. Before law school, Ms. Pollock was an accredited representative at the New York Legal Assistance Group, where she represented clients in affirmative immigration matters.
Moderator:
Stacy Taeuber is an attorney with the Oregon Justice Resource Center Immigration Project, where she advises Oregon public defenders regarding the immigration consequences faced by their noncitizen clients. Previously, she was an immigration resource attorney for the Washington Defender Association, where she worked with defenders and other stakeholders to address the immigration consequences faced by noncitizens accused of crimes. She has over 25 years of experience as an immigrant rights advocate; she has practiced in Florida, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and has argued cases before the Arizona and Wisconsin Supreme Courts, the Seventh Circuit, and federal district courts. She spent two years as a public defender in Arizona and was a contract defender in Wisconsin. Stacy founded the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School and served as its director for four years and was a visiting clinical professor in the University of Minnesota Law School’s Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic for two years. Stacy received her B.A. in Spanish from Earlham College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law School. stacy@taeuberlaw.com.

Wendy Wayne
Wendy Wayne is an immigration policy consultant and founder of South End Strategies LLC. She is a nationally recognized expert on enforcement policy, legal representation programs and the interplay of immigration and criminal law. Wendy provides strategic guidance to nonprofit
immigration organizations, designs and develops programs that increase access to justice and advises criminal defense and racial justice organizations on the impacts of immigration policy. Wendy is the former Director of the Immigration Impact Unit at the Committee for Public
Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, where she provided comprehensive training and advice to court-appointed attorneys throughout Massachusetts and engaged in systemic litigation on issues regarding immigration enforcement. She is a frequent
speaker at state and national conferences. Prior to becoming an immigration expert, Wendy was a trial attorney at CPCS, representing individuals charged with serious felonies. Wendy is the former Chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration and
currently serves as a Special Advisor. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)’s National ICE Liaison and Removal Defense Committees. She previously served on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council Task Force on Secure
Communities, the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission and the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Fearless Advocacy: Representing Noncitizens in IMMIGRATION Court
2025-12-11 15:00 - 16:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/fearless-advocacy-representing-non-citizens-in-immigration-court/
NOTE: NAPD membership is NOT required to attend. To create a free account to purchase a ticket please go to: https://publicdefenders.us/create-account/
The ongoing attacks on the rule of law and threat of criminal charges against defense lawyers fulfilling their ethical and constitutional duties to represent their noncitizen clients are intended to chill zealous representation. This webinar will educate attorneys about where the legal boundaries lie and how to navigate challenging situations, empowering you to continue your advocacy with confidence. Our expert panelists will explore real-world scenarios and offer practical guidance on how to protect yourself while zealously representing your noncitizen clients.
Kara Hartzler is a senior appellate attorney at the Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. Prior to joining the Federal Defenders, she served as the Legal Director and Criminal Immigration Consultant at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Arizona. She has written numerous books and articles on the intersection between criminal and immigration law; served as an adjunct immigration professor; litigated hundreds of immigration and criminal appeals before the Ninth Circuit; and testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration on the detention and deportation of citizens and other due process violations in the immigration system.
Stephanie Alvarez-Jones, Southeast Regional Attorney, National Immigration Project
Jennifer Friedman, Deputy Public Defender, San Francisco Public Defender, Immigration Defense Unit
Jordan Pollock is currently the Specialized Unit Chief at the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, supervising the Appellate, Actual Innocence, Capital Punishment and Immigration units. Before taking on this role, Ms. Pollock was an Immigration Specialist and Supervisor of the
Immigration Unit of the Dallas Public Defender’s office, where she has worked since 2014. Among other duties, Ms. Pollock advises both public defenders and appointed attorneys of the immigration consequences of the criminal charges against non-citizen clients. Ms. Pollock also
serves as an adjunct professor at Texas A&M Law School, where she teaches a course in “crimmigration,” and is vice chair of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s immigration committee. Previously, Ms. Pollock was an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Public Counsel in Los
Angeles, where she instituted a Legal Orientation Program at two Orange County detention centers and represented detained immigrants in removal proceedings. She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. with honors from Duke
University. Before law school, Ms. Pollock was an accredited representative at the New York Legal Assistance Group, where she represented clients in affirmative immigration matters.
Moderator:
Stacy Taeuber is an attorney with the Oregon Justice Resource Center Immigration Project, where she advises Oregon public defenders regarding the immigration consequences faced by their noncitizen clients. Previously, she was an immigration resource attorney for the Washington Defender Association, where she worked with defenders and other stakeholders to address the immigration consequences faced by noncitizens accused of crimes. She has over 25 years of experience as an immigrant rights advocate; she has practiced in Florida, Arizona, New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and has argued cases before the Arizona and Wisconsin Supreme Courts, the Seventh Circuit, and federal district courts. She spent two years as a public defender in Arizona and was a contract defender in Wisconsin. Stacy founded the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School and served as its director for four years and was a visiting clinical professor in the University of Minnesota Law School’s Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic for two years. Stacy received her B.A. in Spanish from Earlham College and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law School. stacy@taeuberlaw.com.
Wendy Wayne
Wendy Wayne is an immigration policy consultant and founder of South End Strategies LLC. She is a nationally recognized expert on enforcement policy, legal representation programs and the interplay of immigration and criminal law. Wendy provides strategic guidance to nonprofit
immigration organizations, designs and develops programs that increase access to justice and advises criminal defense and racial justice organizations on the impacts of immigration policy. Wendy is the former Director of the Immigration Impact Unit at the Committee for Public
Counsel Services (CPCS), the Massachusetts public defender agency, where she provided comprehensive training and advice to court-appointed attorneys throughout Massachusetts and engaged in systemic litigation on issues regarding immigration enforcement. She is a frequent
speaker at state and national conferences. Prior to becoming an immigration expert, Wendy was a trial attorney at CPCS, representing individuals charged with serious felonies. Wendy is the former Chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Immigration and
currently serves as a Special Advisor. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)’s National ICE Liaison and Removal Defense Committees. She previously served on the Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council Task Force on Secure
Communities, the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission and the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Jodi Ziesemer is the Policy Director for Immigration Emergency Response at the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) where she serves as a resource for NYLAG and partners organizations to summarize and digest changes to federal immigration policy and practice and engages in community-center advocacy on a local, state, and national level. Prior to joining NYLAG, Jodi was a supervision attorney at Catholic Charities in their Unaccompanied Minors Program. In that position, Jodi coordinated representation of recently arrived unaccompanied immigrant children and oversaw a team of attorneys who provide services to immigrant youth detained with the Office of Refugee Resettlement. In addition, she has worked for the past ten years representing a wide variety of immigrants in front of Executive Office of Immigration Review (Immigration Court) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Prior to graduating summa cum laude from New York Law School, Jodi worked as a Board of Immigration Appeals representative for the National Immigrant Justice Center in Chicago and as a paralegal at Fitzgerald and Company, LLC in Boston. During her more than twenty years in immigration law, Jodi has worked on a range of projects including anti-human trafficking initiatives, naturalization drives, pro bono asylum clinics, innovative representation projects for unaccompanied minors and victims of violent crime. Jodi holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Grinnell College and a Master’s in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a J.D. from New York Law School. Jodi served an adjunct professor at St. John’s University and she co-authored an article for the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal entitled, “The Right to Have Rights: Loss of Citizenship, Asylum, and Constitutional Principles.” (Vol 30, No 3, Spring 2016).

Investigator Meetup: Last one of the year! - Open Chat
2025-12-12 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/meetup-inv-12-12-25/
It’s our last meetup of the year, Let’s chat about whatever is on your minds, your cases, and your lives. It last one of the year, let’s end the year together in a lively chat!

We the Defenders (for all but the social work track)
2025-12-15 09:00 - 2025-12-17 13:00 | Indianapolis Government Center South, 302 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, United States
Registration Deadline: We’re in the holiday spirit so we’ve extended registration to December 5th at 5:00 pm! That’s the absolute last day, though! If you register after the original deadline (11/24), we can’t guarantee you’ll receive a shirt, though!

This registration page is not for the SW track only – if you want to register for the SW track go here
This December 15 – 17, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, NAPD will bring together the pivotal workers in defense-based systems. “We the Defenders” is the essential conference for public defense investigators, mitigation specialists, social workers, paralegals, and other core staff – all roles except attorneys – who play a critical role in defense-based work. Social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, and others in similar roles will have a separate track focused on case development to hone your skills, enhance your expertise, and provide you tools for professional development (this registration page is not for the social worker, etc. track – use the social work registration page instead). This is a celebration of the diversity, skill, and dedication that you bring to the public defense community and an acknowledgment that every member of the team is vital.
Pricing before September 8, 2025 $595 NAPD Members, $695 Non Members
Pricing September 9 and beyond $645 NAPD Members, $745 Non Members

Room block for $133 plus taxes and fees at Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, IN 46255. Click here to book room no later than December 5!
Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
We know you may need to convince someone else to approve you joining us. Check out our Convince Your Boss Resources for a sample letter and other information.
Click here for the Agenda!
Plenary Speaker: Daryl Green

https://people.com/darryl-green-deep-forgiveness-man-forgave-brothers-killer-exclusive-7506937
Read more about him here: https://www.deepforgiveness.com/bio
Plenary Speaker: Eddie Ellis

Read more about Eddie here: https://cfsy.org/meet-the-team/
Plenary Speaker: Cynthia Roseberry
Read more about Cynthia here: https: //www.aclu.org/bio/cynthia-w-roseberry

From past participants
The NAPD “We The Defenders” conference is a “Must Attend Event!” I’ve attended twice (Indianapolis 2017 & Albuquerque 2023), and each time I walk away with new resources, new ideas, new contacts and a renewed sense of enthusiasm to share what I learned with co-workers and excited to implement knowledge gained to better assist my clients! It’s inspiring to meet others who are also “TEAM DEFENSE!” We stand together and make our voices heard!
‘WTD’ has ignited a fire in me to be more actively involved overall. I certainly want to attend everything NAPD has to offer. Until the next time I attend, I will take advantage of any opportunities provided to increase my knowledge in mitigation to better serve our people. Learning never stops in my book! Thank you NAPD for this feeling of empowerment.
My first NAPD conference and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I returned to work inspired and rejuvenated – I didn’t even realize I needed rejuvenating. It was wonderful to be in a sea of professionals who do the same work I do. I felt seen and heard, especially when discussing some of the challenges we face. It was a wonderful conference, and I am happy I went.

We the Defenders 2025 (Social Work Track)
2025-12-15 09:00 - 2025-12-17 13:00 | Indianapolis Government Center South, 302 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, United States
Registration Deadline: We’re in the holiday spirit so we’ve extended registration to December 5th at 5:00 pm! That’s the absolute last day, though! If you register after the original deadline (11/24), we can’t guarantee you’ll receive a shirt, though!
This registration page is for the SW track only – if you want to register for the other track go here)
This December 15 – 17, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, NAPD will bring together the pivotal workers in defense-based systems. “We the Defenders” is the essential conference for public defense investigators, mitigation specialists, social workers, paralegals, and other core staff – all roles except attorneys – who play a critical role in defense-based work. Social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, and others in similar roles will have a separate track focused on case development to hone your skills, enhance your expertise, and provide you tools for professional development – this is the registration page for social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, etc.
Pricing before September 8, 2025 $595 NAPD Members, $695 Non Members
Pricing September 9 and beyond $645 NAPD Members, $745 Non Members

Need help with this registration process? Watch this video.
Room block for $133 plus taxes and fees at Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 West Maryland Street, Indianapolis, IN 46255. Click here to book room by December 5th!
We know you may need to convince someone else to approve you joining us. Check out our Convince Your Boss Resources for a sample letter and other information.
Click here for the Agenda!
Plenary Speaker: Daryl Green

https://people.com/darryl-green-deep-forgiveness-man-forgave-brothers-killer-exclusive-7506937
Read more about Daryl here: https://www.deepforgiveness.com/bio
Plenary Speaker: Eddie Ellis

Read more about Eddie here: https://cfsy.org/meet-the-team/
Plenary Speaker: Cynthia Roseberry
Read more about Cynthia here: https: //www.aclu.org/bio/cynthia-w-roseberry

From past participants:
The NAPD “We The Defenders” conference is a “Must Attend Event!” I’ve attended twice (Indianapolis 2017 & Albuquerque 2023), and each time I walk away with new resources, new ideas, new contacts and a renewed sense of enthusiasm to share what I learned with co-workers and excited to implement knowledge gained to better assist my clients! It’s inspiring to meet others who are also “TEAM DEFENSE!” We stand together and make our voices heard!
‘WTD’ has ignited a fire in me to be more actively involved overall. I certainly want to attend everything NAPD has to offer. Until the next time I attend, I will take advantage of any opportunities provided to increase my knowledge in mitigation to better serve our people. Learning never stops in my book! Thank you NAPD for this feeling of empowerment.
My first NAPD conference and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I returned to work inspired and rejuvenated – I didn’t even realize I needed rejuvenating. It was wonderful to be in a sea of professionals who do the same work I do. I felt seen and heard, especially when discussing some of the challenges we face. It was a wonderful conference, and I am happy I went.

Intrafamilial Homicide: A Neurocriminological and Forensic Psychological Perspective
2025-12-15 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/intrafamilial-homicide-a-neurocriminological-and-forensic-psychological-perspective/
Family or domestic homicide is an extreme form of domestic violence where a household member or significant other is murdered. Intrafamilial homicides can take several different forms, including the murder of newborns, infants, siblings, children, parents, significant others, or other family members. Motivations for acts of intrafamilial homicide vary by the nature of the relationship between the perpetrator and victim (e.g., spouse-spouse, parent-child, or child-parent) and a host of other factors. Survivors impacted by these events are left to suffer grave consequences, including serious trauma and the loss of a loved one. We understand the profound effects these traumatic events have on individuals, families, communities, and professional organizational settings. Our goal is to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to help better understand and hopefully prevent these tragedies from occurring in the future.

This training course aims to provide attendees with an understanding of the different manifestations of family homicide as well as its causes, consequences, and risk factors. Intervention, screening, and prevention strategies will also be explored. Other topics explored in this training will include adverse life experiences, attachment problems, abnormal brain structures and chemistry, blood sugar imbalances, central nervous system dysfunction, unhealthy nutritional practices, HPA axis dysfunction (a system that controls reactions to stress and regulates many body processes), psychiatric comorbidity, substance misuse, stalking, rumination, dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics, possessiveness, estrangement, coercive control, brain injury, strangulation, abrupt life changes (e.g., job loss), self-regulation deficits, victim-offender dynamics, executive dysfunction, self-destructive behaviors, and humiliation to name a few. Research findings from the fields of neurocriminology and forensic psychology will also be used throughout this training to further enhance our understanding of these complex topics.

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to family violence, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), Dyslexia, and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and previously co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Reconceptualizing Preservation of the Right to Self-Defense in Jury Trials
2025-12-16 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/self-defense-in-jury-trials/
The right to self-defense is one of the oldest and most universal concepts in Anglo-American criminal law and criminal procedure. Nonetheless, trial judges across the country are being absolved of erroneously denying the accused’s valid request for a substantiated self-defense jury instruction based on personal opinions, prejudices, and biases about the credibility of the accused’s case.
Anjali Pathmanathan, visiting lecturer and former public defender, studied this phenomenon and wrote a law review article, “Directing Unconstitutional Verdicts: Discussing Strategies to Combat When Judges Become Jurors on Self-Defense.” She came to the conclusion that these trial judges are essentially directing verdicts of guilt against the accused. So what can trial counsel do to combat this practice and stop trial judges from usurping the jury’s role in this unconstitutional manner?
This webinar will offer a reconceptualization of how trial counsel can argue and preserve their client’s right to the jury’s consideration of their self-defense claim, while, hopefully paving the pathway for more fair jury trials and, if needed, subsequent appeals.
REGISTER to attend this informative and advocacy-focused NAPD webinar. Registration is free for NAPD members.
Anjali Pathmanathan is a Visiting Lecturer in Law, Criminal Legal System Advocacy Fellow, and Associate Research Scholar in Law at Yale Law School. Prior to joining Yale, she was an Assistant Professor of Legal Writing at St. John’s University School of Law and an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at Brooklyn Law School.
Before she began teaching, Pathmanathan was a Senior Appellate Counsel for the Center for Appellate Litigation, where she represented incarcerated individuals in all aspects of their direct appeals and post-conviction claims before the New York State courts. She also previously served as a Program Associate for the former Center on Immigration & Justice at the Vera Institute of Justice, after beginning her legal career as a Staff Attorney for the Criminal Defense Practice of the Legal Aid Society of New York.
As an experienced public defender, her scholarship focuses on issues related to due process and the criminal legal system, and has been published in the Georgia Criminal Law Review, International Criminal Law Review, The Harbinger of The N.Y.U. Review of Law & Social Change, and the New York Law Journal.
She holds a J.D. from Boston College Law School and a B.A. from New York University.

Thursday Social Worker Meetup: Support and Advocacy for Noncitizen Clients
2025-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/thursday-social-worker-meetup-support-and-advocacy-for-noncitizen-clients/
On this special Thursday Social Worker Meetup (for social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, sentencing advocates, and others in similar roles) we will talk about the ways we can emotionally provide support and tangibly provide advocacy and link to resources noncitizen clients who are being stigmatized and targeted by virtue of their citizenship status and intersection with the criminal legal system. This meetup will also offer a space for us to share the difficulties and heartache that we may be experiencing from bearing witness to these harms to our clients.
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 Meetup
2025-12-18 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/social-worker-supervisors-discussion-meetup-3/
This meetup is for the supervisors who supervise social workers, mitigation specialists, dispositional advocates, sentencing advocates, etc. The supervisors meetup and discussion will continue the conversation this month focusing on middle managers and influence as supervisors.
Stephanne Thornton is the NAPD Social Work Training and Resource Coordinator, and Kevin Bishop is the Social Worker Coordinator for the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel.

The National Workload Study – Driving Public Defense Reform
2026-01-09 15:00 - 16:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/the-national-workload-study-driving-public-defense-reform/
This 90-minute webinar will review recent litigation and other developments in the wake of the publication of the National Public Defense Workload Study (NPDWS).
Leading experts and practitioners from different jurisdictions will share their experiences and insights, demonstrating how the workload study is being used to advocate for systemic change, establish constitutionally sound staffing levels, and ensure effective assistance of counsel.
Key Topics and Speakers:
Toby Marshall: Discussing a Washington appellate case involving declaration of unavailability and state supreme court caseload standards.
Steve Hanlon: Reviewing the landmark workload study and its implications in Oregon, including a recent case regarding the constitutionality of state contract provisions.
Malia Brink: Examining how various jurisdictions are utilizing the study’s findings to push for reform.
Anthony Benedetti: Discussing the practical impact of systemic changes on public defender workloads in Massachusetts.
The presentations will be followed by an extended Q&A and discussion session, moderated by Nora Christenson (Criminal Defense Representation Chief at the New York State Office of
Indigent Legal Services (ILS), allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers on strategies for workload management and securing resource parity. This is an essential session for public defenders, policymakers, and advocates committed to guaranteeing the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): A Call on Clinical Behavioral Health
2026-01-12 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-a-call-on-clinical-behavioral-health/
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (e.g., household dysfunction, abuse, neglect, witnessing violence in the home or community) are traumatic events occurring prior to the age of 18 and are related to long-term negative cognitive, developmental, behavioral, social, and physical health outcomes. Designed for professionals working in clinical behavioral health, criminal justice, forensic psychological, and legal, this training provides attendees with an overview of the ACEs research and its implications for justice-involved populations, and screening, intake, intervention, supervision, and management. This includes a review of practical tips, strategies, and solutions that can be utilized when working with clients impacted by various types of adverse childhood experiences. Other relevant topics of interest discussed include prenatal trauma, maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse birth outcomes, complex and developmental trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD (CPTSD), toxic stress, alexithymia, mentalization deficits, attachment problems, executive functioning limitations, sleep disturbances, self-regulation problems, theory of mind (ToM) limitations, language development issues, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, suicidality, shame, empathy, resilience, and trauma informed care strategies. All aforementioned discussions are grounded in empirical research findings.
Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod is also the founder and co-editor-in-chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, confabulation, suggestibility, sleep disturbances, serious and persistent mental health disorders, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences. Jerrod also holds a wide range of professional certifications and has completed several comprehensive training programs. Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters and previously co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with Erv Weinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets and has appeared in two documentaries related to the topic of FASD. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

Permission to Pause: The Guilt-Free Guide to Self-Care and Making You a Priority
2026-01-13 14:00 - 15:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/permission-to-pause-the-guilt-free-guide-to-self-care-and-making-you-a-priority/
Public Defense isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. But constantly showing up for clients, colleagues, and the mission can leave you running on empty, disconnected from your own needs, and feeling like there’s no end in sight. Now add in family responsibilities, and it’s a wonder you can breathe. This training recognizes that your well-being is not optional; it’s essential. I know, I was a Public Defender for 17+ years.

In this session, you’ll discover practical, realistic ways to carve out time for yourself—even when your schedule never lets up. You’ll learn how to reclaim short pockets of time, protect them from interruptions, and use them in ways that actually restore your energy, focus, and resilience. The truth is, you don’t need hours—just 15 minutes a day can make a real difference when you know how to use it well.

You’ll walk away with:
Clear, actionable strategies for protecting time for self-care
Learning to carve out those pockets of time in even the busiest days
Tools to make your 15-minute resets meaningful and restorative
The confidence to prioritize yourself all without guilt or hesitation

Practices for treating yourself with self-compassion

This training meets you where you are, in the reality of high stakes, heavy workloads, and back-to-back responsibilities. Because you give so much, it’s time to give some of that care back to yourself.

You matter. Your energy matters. And you are worth the time it takes to care for yourself.

Marie Sennett, certified yoga teacher and transitional life coach, works 1:1 with her clients designing a yoga and meditation plan tailored to their needs for a healthy body and mind, making them absolutely ready to Live their Dream Retirement.

A yoga practitioner since 1997, Marie struggled as a busy civil rights lawyer and Public Defender for decades to make the time needed to make her body strong and flexible and her mind relaxed and focused so she could be ready to live the dream retirement she always wanted. She became a yoga teacher to assist her clients in making that transformation to their Dream Retirement.

Celebrate Gideon's Anniversary with a Concert for Indigent Defense
2026-01-15 15:00 - 16:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/celebrate-gideons-anniversary-concert/
Join us to learn how you and your office can very easily create an impactful and energizing Gideon Day with a Concert for Indigent Defense in your region.

This webinar will explain the simple steps for easily and successfully presenting a Concerts for Indigent Defense in your jurisdiction in March 2026, to defend the constitutional right to counsel:

Through your defender staff, identify a local band that would call their mid-March show a Concert for Indigent Defense
Publicize the show, issues, and musicians through legal, mainstream, music, and social media
Invite your team to join the celebration!

Hear from defenders from across the country about how they successfully presented a Concert for Indigent Defense in their jurisdictions, and secured valuable media support for the right to counsel. And how you can get all the support you might want to make it work for your office, too.

Stephen Saloom, Founder and longtime organizer of Concerts for Indigent Defense
Lindsey Hortenstine, Communications Director, Orleans Public Defenders
Taylor Critchell, Colorado Defender, Band Member, and Concert for Indigent Defense presenter
And more…

Online Course: Anti-Fat Bias & Mitigation
2026-01-21 - 2026-02-18
Five-week course with weekly live Zoom small groups, each Wednesday starting January 21, 2026.
This course is crafted for anyone working with multiply-marginalized clients, this five week course provides real world application of intersectional theory. Learn about the historical roots and modern-day impact of anti-fat bias (AKA fatphobia), and how to use that information to improve client relationships and craft impactful mitigation.
Dates: January 21 -February 18, 2026
Weekly 70-minute live Zoom small groups – Each Wednesday 7:00 pm – 8:10 pm Eastern / 4:00 pm – 5:10 pm Pacific starting January 21, 2026
Registration Deadline January 12, 2026
Price: $300 NAPD Members / $400 Non Members You will continue to have access to the entire course for three months after the completion of the small group sessions. If the course does not meet the minimum required registrants it may be cancelled or postponed.
What to Expect
On Demand Learning
Each week, you’ll gain access to articles, videos, and educational materials through our learning platform. Review them at your own pace to inspire and challenge yourself between live classes.
Facilitated Small Group Workshops
Attend a 70-minute Zoom based workshop each week for five weeks, led by experienced Mitigation Specialist Savannah Weinstock. Through structured presentations, collaborative group discussions, and exploration of contemporary issues faced by the fat community today, you’ll dive into this exciting topic in a safe space.
Topics Covered

Explore and define anti-fat bias, taking into account its historical roots and modern day impact
Highlight the harm encountered by fat folks at the intersection of anti-fat bias and other marginalizations
Analyze how public defense clients may be particularly at risk of anti-fat bias
Learn how to incorporate the topic of anti-fat bias into defense mitigation
Learn and feel confident using accurate, client-centered language surrounding this topic while speaking to and about fat clients

Who Should Attend
This course is for anyone in public defense who wants to incorporate intersectionality into their practice, whether that means written mitigation reports, oral arguments at sentencing, or within client relationships. You will come away from this course with extensive knowledge of academic/scientific research and how to use it, the ability to interact more effectively with fat clients, and insight into the fat experience.
Small Group Facilitator
Savannah Weinstock is a Midwest native whose education brought her first to Portland, OR and then to Boston, MA before coming home to join the Milwaukee Trial Office of the Wisconsin State Public Defender as a Mitigation Specialist (CSS) in 2021. She has a professional background in domestic violence counseling, journalism, and advocacy. She has presented at national conferences on Anti-Fat Bias and Mitigation, including the NAPD Women’s Conference and the Social Work and Law National Symposium. She has run statewide trainings on gender identity, working as a Defense team, and forming community connections. She is certified to train other trainers on the use of Narcan and harm-reduction techniques. She is also a member of the Vital Strategies Drug Checking Policy Committee and the NAPD Education Advisory Committee. She is a staunch supporter of prison abolition, antiracism, disability justice, and radical fat activism. She is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community and the parent of five dogs, which she swears isn’t as crazy as it sounds.

Pozner on Cross: One and Done; Efficiently drafting Chapter Method cross-examinations.
2026-01-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Virtual, Virtual Conference
One and Done sets out the most efficient method of studying discovery and filtering facts into draft Chapter Method cross-examinations. Using the techniques of One and Done, we can rapidly study discovery in the most fruitful order and simultaneously filter relevant facts and their sources into potential chapters of cross-examination.

The One and Done techniques enable us to quickly see our best areas for cross-examination. These methods clearly reveal potential impeachments by inconsistent statements, or by omission, disagreements among prosecution witnesses, incomplete investigations, and other potential chapters of cross-examination. The facts we can use in constructive cross -examination or asymmetrical cross-examination are easily documented , giving us great confidence in our Chapters.
The One and Done method of review and writing provides draft chapters of cross in a form that is immediately useful in trial.

Larry Pozner is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, lecturer, and author. His book, Cross Examination: Science and Techniques (Lexis, co-authored with Roger Dodd) is now in its 3rd edition and continues to be America’s bestselling book on cross. Reviewers have described the book in words such as “long,” and “in English.”
Larry’s lectures are built around the newest tools for understanding how to motivate jurors to award us the verdict we seek, the advanced techniques of cross that can immediately result in an advantage in trial, and how we can all become quicker at crafting the cross examinations that win cases.
Mastering the science of cross-examination is essential for the skilled litigator. Veteran trial lawyer and author Larry Pozner teaches the key elements of effective cross: how to factually dominate the trial with substance, train witnesses, shape jurors’ perceptions, put facts in the best context, derail opposition, and ultimately win cases. Focus on the power of leading questions, how to control witnesses one fact at a time, and goal-oriented questioning sequences that block escape.
Larry began his career in the Colorado Public Defender system. He later formed a criminal defense firm, and a subsequent firm handling both plaintiff and defense sides of document-intensive civil matters for businesses large and small, but if we are being blunt, mostly large. For many years, Larry defended the Denver Broncos franchise in trials including the lawsuit challenging Pat Bowlen’s purchase of the team. Larry won, which is why he could remain in Colorado.
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Larry is a Past-president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company litigation, and in Criminal Defense, both White Collar and Non-White Collar crimes.
He has lectured in 48 states throughout Canada, and strangely, Brazil. As a teacher at the University of Denver College of Law he was voted Best Professor. But that may have been due to his “nobody flunks” policy.

Emotion-First Practice: Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Missing Infrastructure in Public Defense
2026-01-22 16:00 - 17:30 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/emotion-first-practice-why-emotional-intelligence-is-the-missing-infrastructure-in-public-defense/
Public defenders operate in an emotional ecosystem shaped by scarcity, hierarchy, racism, and chronic trauma. These conditions make self-protectionism adaptive and cause even promising reforms to wither. Yet unlike other helping fields, we rarely recognize how critical emotional intelligence (EI) is in countering these dynamics and sustaining meaningful change.

Join Dr. Cherise Fanno Burdeen and Alison Bloomquist for a webinar introducing their new book, Emotion-First Theory & Practice, where they break down why EI is the missing infrastructure in public defense and how rebuilding our emotional ecosystem makes liberatory, client-centered advocacy possible.

Dr. Cherise Fanno Burdeen is a community psychology and justice systems reform expert whose career spans pretrial justice, public defense, government leadership, and applied research on equity and well-being. She has led complex organizations, shaped national reform strategies, and guided systemic transformation efforts to advance fairness, accountability, and community safety. Her experience bridges the federal government, national nonprofits, and state and local jurisdictions, where she has collaborated with policymakers, defenders, and advocates to drive justice innovation.

Alison Bloomquist, Esq. is a racial justice educator, strategic leader, and public defender with two decades of experience advancing equity in the criminal legal system. A Certified Racial Justice Trainer and faculty member at the National Criminal Defense College, she has led national initiatives on anti-racist practice and systems reform at NLADA and in Connecticut’s public defense system. She continues to serve as a Special Public Defender and a scholar on race and merit in legal practice

The Dark Tetrad: A Forensic Neuroscience and Neurocriminological Perspective
2026-02-09 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/the-dark-tetrad-a-forensic-neuroscience-and-neurocriminological-perspective/
The Dark Tetrad is a constellation of four interrelated personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and sadism. These four traits are typified by grandiosity, manipulativeness, lack of empathy, and indifference to the well-being of others. The Dark Tetrad is linked to a diverse array of negative outcomes, including poor social relationships, career instability, and problematic or criminal behaviors. Research suggests that these traits are influenced, at least in part, by prenatal and postnatal neurobiopsychosocial factors. As such, neurocriminology provides a critical pathway for understanding the role of brain structure, brain function, and biochemical and genetic factors in the etiology of the Dark Tetrad. Further, forensic neuroscience can apply these neurocriminological findings to evaluate key psycholegal concepts and processes. Designed for criminal justice, forensic mental health, and legal professionals, this training explores the characteristics and causes of each Dark Tetrad trait through the lenses of forensic neuroscience and neurocriminology. Attendees will learn how these approaches can help enhance understanding, prevention, screening and assessment, interventions, and management of these traits. Cutting-edge research findings and compelling case studies will be presented throughout to illustrate key topics.

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Medical Biochemistry, Exercise Prescription, Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences.Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with ErvWeinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

ADHD and the Criminal Justice System: A Forensic Neuroscience and Neurocriminological Perspective
2026-03-16 13:00 - 14:00 | https://publicdefenders.us/event/adhd-and-the-criminal-justice-system/
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric disorder distinguished by impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Typically emerging during childhood, these symptoms can persist into adulthood and contribute to social, occupational, and behavioral problems. These behavioral problems can include criminal justice-involvement, as ADHD is disproportionately likely in this context relative to the general population. Further, the symptoms of ADHD make it difficult to navigate the rules and procedures of the criminal justice system, from courtroom settings to community supervision. Without accurate assessment and effective treatment, individuals with ADHD may be at risk for reoffending and long-term criminal justice-involvement. Designed for legal and mental health professionals, this innovative training introduces the symptoms, etiology (including prenatal and postnatal neurobiopsychosocial risk factors), co-occurring conditions, and consequences of ADHD. Attendees will learn how to apply key learning objectives during interviews, screening and assessment, and interventions. Increased awareness of ADHD’s role in offending has the potential to reduce recidivism, ensure fairness, and promote public safety. Cutting-edge research from forensic neuroscience and neurocriminology will be highlighted throughout the training.

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S., is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Neuroscience and the Law, Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy from Walden University and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology from San Diego State University Global Campus. In 2023, Jerrod completed a diabetes care and education certificate from Central Arizona College. Currently, Jerrod is pursuing his fifth master’s degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from Northeast College of Health Sciences.Jerrod has also conducted over 300 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for various organizations and professional and student audiences. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters, and recently, co-edited the book Forensic Mental Health: A Source Guide for Professionals (Brown & Weinkauf, 2018) with ErvWeinkauf. Jerrod has also been quoted in various magazines, newspapers, and other professional outlets. Jerrod is also regularly featured on several national and international podcast programs.

NAPD Rise. Resist. Represent. 2026
2026-03-19 - 2026-03-20 | Virtual, Virtual Conference
The National Public Defense Virtual Training Event 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.
Recordings will be available shortly after the conference. We will be recording at least 90% of the sessions. Those not to be recorded will be noted in the description.
Agenda and details will be provided closer to the event. Links to past events below.
Click here purchase tickets through Eventbrite

EARLY BIRD PRICING (Before Jan 19, 2026)

$90 NAPD Member Ticket
$125 Standard Ticket (non-member)
$65 each ticket – Bulk purchase of 5-100
$40 each ticket – Bulk purchase of 101 and above*

Jan 19 -March 20, 2026

$125 NAPD Member Ticket
$175 Standard Ticket (non-member)
$100 each ticket – Bulk purchase of 5-100
$75 each ticket – Bulk purchase of 101 and above*

*Bulk purchases of over 100 tickets are not supported by Eventbrite. To place a large bulk order, please contact us at: events@publicdefenders.us
Check out some of the past conference schedules:
R3 Conference 2025 Schedule
R3 Conference 2024 Schedule
R3 Conference 2023 Schedule
R3 Conference 2022 Schedule
