Agenda Faculty Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
Program Summary:
Defending charges of sexual assault and child abuse can be daunting — but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be.
Every year, NACDL identifies the hottest topics and most pressing issues when defending these cases, and brings-in nationally-renowned lawyers and experts to help you prepare for battle. This year’s 16th Annual Defending Sex Cases training seminar will most-assuredly be our best yet; packed with topics and speakers you won’t want to miss!
Larry Pozner, the master of cross-examination, will make his return to this conference as the featured speaker to educate attendees on, "High Impact Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases Using The Chapter Method©" in a special 4-hour session.
Much like all NACDL programs, this event also presents the unique opportunity to develop both professional and personal contacts where you can experience the camaraderie of being with criminal defense lawyers from all around the world. Don’t miss this exciting educational opportunity. Attend this highly-rated one-of-a-kind NACDL seminar and leave with a better understanding of defending sex crimes cases in order to effectively represent your clients before, during, and after trial.
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Wednesday, November 12, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 3:30 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| Thursday, November 13, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks and Morning Announcements – NACDL President Andy Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) and CLE Program Co-Chairs Jacqueline Goodman (Fullerton, CA), Missy Owen (Charlotte, NC) & Kathleen Stilling (Brookfield, WI) |
| 8:10 am | Motions in Limine – Joseph A. Bugni (Madison, WI) |
| 9:10 am | Embracing the Suck: Voir Dire in Sexual Assault Cases – Richard Kammen (Hilton Head, SC) |
| 10:10 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:30 am | Understanding Pediatric Female Penetration: Anatomy, Physiology, and Research – Tristan Ashly Wristen, MSN, BSN, RN, FN-CSA, SANE-A, SANE-P (Wall Township, NJ) |
| 11:30 am | Exploring Digital Evidence – Andrew Garrett (Orlando, FL) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:00 pm | Why Would They Lie? – Michael Waddington (Weston, FL) |
| 3:00 pm | Bringing Your SANE-A Game: Preparing to Cross Forensic Medical Providers in Sexual Assault Cases with Postpubertal Alleged Victims – Laurie Rose Kepros (Denver, CO) |
| 4:00 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:20 pm | Sex, Crimes, and Self-Defense: The Ethics of Burnout & Stress – Justin Andrus (Bath, ME) and Logan Perkins (Bangor, ME) |
| 5:20 pm | Adjourn for the Day |
| 7:00 pm |
Opening Reception Sponsored by:  |
| Friday, November 14, 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 7:00-8:00 am | Networking Tables - Network with faculty and other lawyers on topics of interest over coffee and breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Morning Announcements – CLE Program Co-Chairs Jacqueline Goodman (Fullerton, CA), Missy Owen (Charlotte, NC) & Kathleen Stilling (Brookfield, WI) |
| 8:05 am | The Client Intake Interview: The Start of a Wonderful Relationship – Steven B. Epstein (Garden City, NY) |
| 8:55 am | Forensic Psychological Evaluations with Accused Sexual Offenders – Dr. Ryan J. Jordan, Ph.D. (Tusin, CA) |
| 9:45 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:00 am | Identifying Bias to Defend Child Sexual Abuse Allegations – Carmen Brooks (Las Vegas, NV) |
| 11:00 am | Lunch Break on your Own |
| 12:30 pm | PART 1: High Impact Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases Using The Chapter Method© – Larry Pozner (Kailua Kona, Hawai'i) |
| 2:30 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 2:50 pm | PART 2: High Impact Cross-Examination for Sexual Assault Cases Using The Chapter Method© – Larry Pozner (Kailua Kona, Hawai'i) |
| 4:50 pm | Transition Break |
| 5:00 pm | Police Interrogation, Psychological Coercion, and Unreliable Statements, Admissions and/or Confessions: Science and Litigation – Dr. Richard Leo (San Francisco, CA) |
| 6:00 pm | Seminar Adjourns - See You in 2026! |
Faculty
- Justin Andrus (Bath, ME)
- Carmen Brooks (Las Vegas, NV)
- Joseph A. Bugni (Madison, WI) *NACDL MEMBER
- Steven B. Epstein (Garden City, NY) *NACDL MEMBER
- Andrew Garrett (Orlando, FL) *NACDL MEMBER
- Dr. Ryan J. Jordan, Ph.D. (Tusin, CA)
- Richard Kammen (Hilton Head, SC) *NACDL MEMBER
- Laurie Rose Kepros (Denver, CO)
- Dr. Richard Leo (San Francisco, CA) *NACDL MEMBER
- Logan Perkins (Belfast, ME)
- Larry Pozner (Kailua Kona, Hawai'i) *NACDL MEMBER
- Michael Waddington (Weston, FL) *NACDL MEMBER
- Tristan Ashly Wristen, MSN, BSN, RN, FN-CSA, SANE-A, SANE-P (Wall Township, NJ)
Hotel
Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
All reservations within NACDL room block must be booked using the online reservations link below. Reservations over the phone are not available.
Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/event/50899173/owner/11282514/home
Group rate: $99 + tax Wednesday & Thursday / $209 + tax Friday (expires October 22, 2025).
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...
Welcoming Reception Sponsors:
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Exhibitors:
Envista Forensics
Forensic Analytical Crime Lab
Garrett Discovery Inc.
Godoy Medical Forensics
Jennifer Jordan Consulting, Legal Nurse Consulting
Metadata Forensics LLC
Mr. Zianni's Custom Italian Suits (Custom Suits)
RizeUp Media
Second Look Training and Forensic Consulting LLC
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 $429. Approved recipients are responsible for the remainder of the tuition fee, which is $215 (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.
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 October 15, 2025.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP AND RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS.
OPTION 2: 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 | $429 |
| NACDL Members: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, "New Lawyer", International and Military | $329 |
| Non Members (includes 1 year membership) | $768 |
| Non-Member Public Defenders | $349 |
| ALL Nevada and California Lawyers (Residents Only) | $339 |
| 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 | $309 |
| 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, November 7, 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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