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Public Defense Education

Spring 2026 Public Defender Conference - May 6-8, 2026

This is a collection of digital materials used and referenced in the Spring 2026 Public Defender Conference held May 6-8, 2026.

Please select the arrows next to each title to access the drop-down of materials. During the conference, this page will be periodically updated as we receive additional materials. All available materials will be posted here within three weeks of the conclusion of the course.

More information on the conference can be found on the course homepage. If you have any questions, please contact Program Manager, Kayla Fowler

Some of these materials may not meet digital accessibility standards – if you need them to be made accessible, please reference your faculty list from your materials and reach out to the respective session speaker(s). 

Course Materials

Agenda - 2026 Spring Public Defender Conference
May, 2026
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - Work/Life Balance (Professional Well-Being)
February, 2026

Presented by Carla Huff, IDS Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Office of Indigent Defense Services, Durham, NC

There is no presentation to share for this session, per the speaker's request.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - The Missing Piece of the Puzzle: Your Client’s Other Cases (Ethics)
February, 2026

Presented by Timothy Heinle, Teaching Assistant Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC

Blog - State v. Smith.pdf (pdf, 208.48 KB)
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - Dealing with Capacity Issues: A Practical Approach
May, 2026

Presented by John Rubin, Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC,  and Dr. Robert Cochrane, Director of Forensic Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Federal Court for State Defenders
May, 2026

Presented by Kathleen Gleason, First Assistant Federal Defender, Federal Public Defender, Middle District Greensboro, NC

Sentencing Table.pdf (pdf, 416.03 KB)
(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Forensic Interviewing of Children
May, 2026

Presented by Dr. John Helminski, Forensic Psychologist, Private Practice, Morrisville, NC

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Second Amendment Update
May, 2026

Presented by E. Gregory Wallace, Professor of Law, Campbell University School of Law, Raleigh, NC 

 

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Excluding and Limiting Expert Witnesses
May, 2026

Presented by Vicki Jayne, Assistant Capital Defender, Office of the Capital Defender, Asheville, NC

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - For-Cause Challenges
May, 2026

Presented by Emily Coward, Director, Inclusive Juries Project, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - The New Good Faith Exception
May, 2026

Presented by John Carella, Assistant Appellate Defender, and Candace Washington, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the Appellate Defender, Durham, NC

(Track 1) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Litigating and Preserving Suppression for Appeal
May, 2026

Presented by Daniel Blau, Attorney, Blau and Hynson, PLLC, Raleigh, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Admitting Evidence in District Court
May, 2026
(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Breath and Blood Tests
May, 2026

Presented by Belal Elrahal, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Harm Reduction Law and Resources
May, 2026

Presented by Phil Dixon, Teaching Assistant Professor, and Kirsten Leloudis, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Immigration Detainers
May, 2026

Presented by Kate Evans, Clinical Professor of Law, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Pretrial Release & Iryna's Law
May, 2026

Presented by Elana Fogel, Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Criminal Defense Clinic, Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Litigating Fees and Fines
May, 2026

Presented by Whitley Carpenter, Senior Criminal Justice Counsel & Policy Manager, Forward Justice, Morrisville, NC, and Laura Holland, Director, Fair Chance Criminal Project, N.C. Justice Center, Raleigh, NC

(Track 2) Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Law Enforcement Recordings in District Court
May, 2026

Presented by Jennifer Chandler, Attorney, Chandler Law, Mooresville, NC

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Artificial Intelligence and Evidence Issues (Technology)
May, 2026

Presented by Timothy Heinle, Teaching Assistant Professor, and Kristi Nickodem, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Ethical Responsibilities During Disasters (Ethics)
May, 2026

Presented by Ariel Freedman, Assistant Ethics Counsel, North Carolina State Bar, Raleigh, NC

There is no presentation to share for this session, per the speaker's request.

Friday, May 8, 2026 - Criminal Case and Legislative Update
May, 2026

Presented by Phil Dixon, Teaching Associate Professor, and Danny Spiegel, Assistant Professor, UNC School of Government, Chapel Hill, NC

There is no presentation to share for this session, per the speaker's request. If you would like a copy of this presentation, please reach out to the speaker.

Public Officials - Courts and Judicial Administration Roles