Agenda Faculty Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
We're excited to announce that NACDL is heading to Minneapolis for its 2025 Annual Meeting, July 9-12, 2025 at Minneapolis Marriott City Center! Plan today to join us and experience this outstanding CLE training opportunity.
NACDL's Annual Meetings are always chock full of premiere faculty, networking and social events, and extracurricular activities.
Violent crimes involving, murder, mayhem, or malice, present a unique set of challenges for criminal defense lawyers. These are the most difficult cases; police and prosecutors devote more time and resources to them, jurors are more likely to convict, and judges send clients away for life without blinking an eye. For these reasons, it is crucial that defense counsel are at the top of their game and devote our best efforts and resources to winning these cases.
Our experienced faculty will teach you how to craft and litigate winning motions from forcing the prosecutor to turn over exculpatory evidence to cutting-edge techniques for suppressing unreliable eyewitness identifications. You'll learn to try complex cases involving violent crimes; from how to pick a jury that is ready to accept the theory of defense, winning a murder case, to preventing your client from being committed for life as a result of a past sex conviction.
Whether it be a murder charge, gun charge, clients accused of being gang members, or defending juveniles in crimes of violence, join your international NACDL colleagues in Minneapolis, where our faculty will provide you with new perspectives, tools, and strategies to help get your clients to their ultimate goal: returning home. Register today!
Consider bringing your family for this summertime event in the beautiful Land of 10,000 Lakes!
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Wednesday, July 9, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 3:30-6:00 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| 7:00 pm |
Welcome to Minneapolis Reception Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsor:
|
| Thursday, July 10, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President Christopher A. Wellborn (Rock Hill, SC) & CLE Program Co-Chairs Kelli Childress (El Paso, TX), Eric Davis (Houston, TX), Ryan Garry (Minneapolis, MN), and Deja Vishny (Milwaukee, WI) |
| 8:15 am | A Blueprint to Defending Homicide Cases – Eric Davis (Houston, TX) |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Committee Meetings throughout the Day (please pick up a detailed schedule at the NACDL registration desk) |
| 9:15 am | Gang Cases – Catherine Turner (Minneapolis, MN) |
| 10:15 am |
Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break Sponsored by:
|
| 10:35 am | Crime Scene Investigation – William 'Bill' Gallagher (Cincinnati, OH) |
| 11:35 am | Evidentiary Issues in Violent Crime cases – Rene Valladares (Las Vegas, NV) |
| 12:35 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 12:40 -1:00 pm |
20-Minute Lunchtime Training: AI-Powered BWC Review for Defense Attorneys JusticeText Sponsored by:
Description: “I got a massive dump of 30-40 hours of body cam footage… there was no way I could have gone through it all without JusticeText.” - Jessa Nicholson Goetz, attorney in Madison, WI Today, thousands of criminal defense attorneys like Jessa use JusticeText to save hours reviewing BWC, jail calls, and interrogation videos. In this 20-minute session, learn how you can use cutting edge AI tools to transcribe, synthesize, clip, and redact important moments from video evidence to strengthen your case. In addition, join us before lunch to receive:
As a NACDL Affinity Partner, we’ve spent the last five years building JusticeText specifically for the criminal defense community. To learn more, hear from Alex Bunin, Chief Public Defender in Harris County, in this five-minute video or visit https://justicetext.com/. |
| 2:05 pm | Cross-Examining the Medical Examiner – Deja Vishny (Milwaukee, WI) |
| 3:05 pm | Self Defense: Effectively Telling Your Client's Story in a Murder Case – Lonnie M. Randolph, II (East Chicago, IN) |
| 4:05 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:25 pm | Juveniles ARE Different: What You Need to Know When Defending A Kid Charged With a Crime of Violence – H. Eugene Oliver, III (Harrisonburg, VA) |
| 5:25 pm | Drug Overdose Homicides – Angelica Cogliano (Austin, TX) |
| 6:25 pm | Seminar Adjourns |
| 7:00 pm | NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice Event - TBA |
| Friday, July 11, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 7:00 am |
The 3rd Annual NACDL 5k Run/Walk Hosted by:
|
| 8:00 am | Morning Remarks and Announcements – NACDL President-Elect Andrew S. Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) & CLE Program Co-Chairs Kelli Childress (El Paso, TX), Eric Davis (Houston, TX), Ryan Garry (Minneapolis, MN), and Deja Vishny (Milwaukee, WI) |
| 8:10 am | Attacking Forensic Experts – Melanie Foote (Frankfort, KY) |
| 8:10-10:10 am |
Breakout Session: The Business of Law Moderator: TBA Speakers: TBA |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Committee Meetings throughout the Day (please pick up a detailed schedule at the NACDL registration desk) |
| 9:10 am | Defending Sexual Assault Cases – Joshua Hargrove (Madison, WI) |
| 10:10 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break
Sponsored by:
|
| 10:30 am | Defending Gun Cases – Dumaka Shabazz (Nashville, TN) |
| 11:30 am | Child Abuse Defenses – Carmen Brooks (Atlanta, GA) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:00 pm | Establishing Your Theory and Theme for Opening Statements in Violent Crimes Cases – Kevann Gardner (Washington, DC) |
| 3:00 pm | Presentation Topic TBA – Speaker TBA (Location, US) |
| 4:00 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:20 pm | Addressing Police Misconduct – Michael L. Bloch (New York, NY) |
| 5:20 pm | Seminar Adjourns |
| Saturday, July 12, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Exhibit Hall Open |
| 8:00 am | NACDL Committee Meetings (pick up detailed schedule at NACDL registration desk) |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Annual Membership and Board of Directors Meeting; Inauguration of President-Elect Andrew S. Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) |
| 1:00 pm | Enjoy Minneapolis! |
Faculty
Michael L. Bloch (New York, NY)
Carmen Brooks (Atlanta, GA)
Angelica Cogliano (Austin, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Eric Davis (Houston, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Melanie Foote (Frankfort, KY) *NACDL MEMBER
William 'Bill' Gallagher (Cincinnati, OH) *NACDL MEMBER
Kevann Gardner (Washington, DC)
Joshua Hargrove (Madison, WI) *NACDL MEMBER
H. Eugene Oliver, III (Harrisonburg, VA) *NACDL MEMBER
Lonnie M. Randolph, II (East Chicago, IN) *NACDL MEMBER
Dumaka Shabazz (Nashville, TN)
Catherine Turner (Minneapolis, MN) *NACDL MEMBER
Rene Valladares (Las Vegas, NV) *NACDL MEMBER
Deja Vishny (Milwaukee, WI) *NACDL MEMBER
Hotel
Minneapolis Marriott City Center
30 South 7th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone Reservations: 866-315-9403
Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/e/50917391
Group rate: $199 + tax (expires June 18, 2025). Please mention NACDL Conference to receive applicable discount rate.
Rooms/discounted group rates are not guaranteed once the block has been filled.
Sponsorship and Exhibits
Disclaimer: NACDL does not necessarily endorse or guarantee the quality, applicability, or discounts of the products and/or services of its exhibitors. Users of these products and/or services do so at their sole discretion and NACDL assumes no responsibility for them.
For information on exhibiting or sponsorships, please contact NACDL's Sales and Marketing Manager Jason Petty at jpetty@nacdl.org or call (202) 465-7637.
NACDL would like to thank the following sponsors, exhibitors, and affinity partners for their support and contributions:
PLATINUM Sponsor:
still available...
GOLD Sponsor:
still available...
SILVER Sponsor:
still available...
BRONZE Sponsor:
still available..
Cocktail Reception Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Exhibitors:
Mindr / Intoxalock / Breathe Easy
Scholarships
NACDL offers a variety of scholarships for this event ranging from partially discounted to fully funded. Each type of scholarship has different application requirements. To apply for any of the following scholarships, please follow the instructions for that specific scholarship.
OPTION 1: Needs-Based Scholarships
Based on need, scholarships are available to NACDL members for up to 50% off the standard seminar fee of $439. Approved recipients are responsible for the remainder of the tuition fee, which is $220 (all other expenses are not included). The reduced scholarship fee includes seminar tuition, admission to all evening social events, and downloadable seminar materials. Travel, hotel, and other costs are not included.
OPTION 2: Amy Seidman Memorial Scholarships
In memory of long-time NACDL member Amy Seidman, who prematurely passed away in 2003, a special fund was established by the Foundation for Criminal Justice for financially needy NACDL members to attend the Annual Meeting. Five scholarships are available to include seminar tuition, admission to all evening social events, and materials. Travel, hotel, and other costs are not included.
To Apply: Prepare and e-mail a letter of no more than two pages explaining the reason why you believe you should receive the grant to: NACDL Senior Director of Events Akvile Athanason, at aathanason@nacdl.org.
All applications must be submitted before registering for the seminar and received by June 15, 2025.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP AND RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED AND AMY SEIDMAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS.
OPTION 3: Public Defense Scholarships
As a result of generous grant funding, NACDL is able to offer scholarship assistance to public defense providers to attend this NACDL training program. Scholarships will be awarded in the form of full or partial reimbursement of the registration costs of the program. Limited travel reimbursement stipends may also be awarded to qualifying individuals to help defray the costs of travel and lodging.
Completed public defense scholarship applications should be emailed to: PDTScholarship@nacdl.org
Apply for a Public Defense Scholarship
Pricing
Register Online Register by PDF
Members of NACDL enjoy exclusive registration rates for our seminars along with all the benefits from joining.
| Registration Fees | |
|---|---|
| NACDL MEMBERS: Regular, Life, President's Club and Sustaining Members | $439 |
| NACDL MEMBERS: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, New Lawyer, International and Military | $319 |
| Non-Members: Private Practitioners (includes 1-year membership) | $768 |
| Non-Member Public Defenders | $359 |
| ALL Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin Lawyers (Residents Only) | $349 |
| Groups of 4 or more PDs (must register at the same time; 1 payment; no changes or cancellations allowed). To register a group, please visit: http://www.nacdl.org/PDGroups | $299 |
| Non-Attendee Materials / Recordings | |
|---|---|
| Audio Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $225 |
| Video Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $299 |
CANCELLATIONS: There is a $75 cancellation fee. Cancellations must be received in writing via e-mail to cancel@nacdl.org by 5:30 pm E.T. Friday, July 4, 2025, to receive a refund, less the cancellation fee. No refunds can be issued after the cancellation deadline.
Code of Conduct
NACDL endeavors to foster a working, learning, and social environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and insult. To that end, NACDL has adopted a Code of Conduct for Affiliated Persons that applies to all attendees and participants of any kind at all NACDL sponsored events.
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