Spring Public Defender Conference
- Cherokee, NCMay 6 - 8, 2026
May 6 - 8, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Cherokee
Registration will close on Friday, April 17.
This conference is open to public defenders, public defender investigators, private investigators, appellate defenders, capital defenders, special counsel, IDS legal staff, and attorneys from the Center for Death Penalty Litigation and North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. This year’s conference topics include pretrial release, law enforcement recordings, artificial intelligence and evidence, expert witness challenges, harm reduction, federal court issues affecting state court, and capacity, among many others.
For information on other public defense education courses, visit our Public Defense Education site.
AGENDA
You can access the agenda here.
REGISTRATION FEE
The registration fee for IDS employees—public defenders, public defender investigators, appellate defenders, capital defenders, special counsel, and IDS legal staff is $90.
The registration fee for attorneys from the Center for Death Penalty Litigation and North Carolina Prisoner Legal Services, Inc. is $425. Due to space constraints, we cannot accommodate private attorneys at this conference.
The registration fee for non-IDS investigators—federal public defender investigators, private investigators, and CDPL and PLS investigators is $350.
CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
The program will offer approximately 12.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit, including two hours of ethics, one hour of professional wellbeing, and one hour of technology CLE credit, subject to Bar approval. If you are unable to attend the entire program, you will need to complete a partial credit form and email it to Program Manager Kayla Fowler at kfowler@sog.unc.edu by Friday, May 22.
Additional information
HOTEL INFORMATION
Hotel accommodations are available from May 5 - May 8 at $99 per night plus tax at the Harrah’s Cherokee Convention Center – Cherokee Tower (Cherokee, NC). Please note that limited rooms are available for Tuesday, May 5, and Friday, May 8. To reserve a room, please refer to the hotel’s website or call the hotel directly at (828) 497-7777 and mention group code "S05PDI". The group rate is available until Sunday, April 5. After this date, accommodations depend on availability and may increase. To modify or cancel a hotel reservation, please refer to the hotel’s website as well. If you need to cancel, please do so as soon as possible.
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking is free and available in the parking deck adjacent to the Cherokee Tower. Additional parking details will be provided to you by your program manager the week prior to the program.
TRAVEL AND REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION (State Employees Only)
Your eligibility for travel reimbursement at the state rate is contingent on state rules and regulations. A customized travel expense allowance sheet detailing reimbursement qualification, travel options, and a mileage chart from county seats to Cherokee will be available on the conference website soon. Once available, please review the travel expense allowance sheet for further information.
MATERIALS
Program materials will be available under the "Materials" tab above. Materials are posted as they are received by instructors.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Course participants who cancel their registration more than 7 calendar days before the course start date will receive a full refund. Otherwise, participants will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. More information can be found in the full cancellation and refund policy.
SPONSORSHIP
This course is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services and the North Carolina Association of Public Defenders.
- Cherokee, NCMay 6 - 8, 2026Harrah's Cherokee Resort Casino
Cherokee Tower
40 Convention Center Drive
Cherokee, NC 28789View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before April 28, 2026 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after April 29, 2026, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.View Additional InformationMust apply270IDS Employees (Public Defenders, Public Defender Investigators, Appellate Defenders, Capital Defenders, Special Counsel, and IDS Legal Staff):
$90.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.Attorney (CDPL & PLS):
$425.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.Non-IDS Investigators (Federal Public Defender Investigators, Private Investigators, and CDPL and PLS Investigators):
$350.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.
Kayla Fowler
