Agenda Faculty Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
Program Summary:
Join your NACDL colleagues at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street, in the vibrant heart of New Orleans during the week of Mardi Gras for an unforgettable seminar that will transform the art of jury selection into a celebration of connection and persuasion! "It’s Not Just Voir Dire, It’s Lagniappe!" will bring the spirit of Mardi Gras to the courtroom, blending the rich cultural flair of the Crescent City with cutting-edge strategies for defenders. You will discover how to communicate effectively, connect deeply with jurors, and convince authentically, all while embracing the "lagniappe" – that little something extra that makes all the difference in your trials. Set against a backdrop of jazz, creole cuisine, and festive energy, this seminar will feature seasoned practitioners, expert-led sessions, and interactive workshops to improve your courtroom performance.
Don’t miss this chance to elevate your voir dire skills with a touch of New Orleans magic! Register now to secure your spot at this one-of-a-kind legal seminar. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 3:30-6:00 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| Thursday, February 19, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks – Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President Andrew Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) & CLE Program Co-Chairs Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY), JoEllyn Jones (Bridgeton, NJ), Eugene Oliver (Harrisonburg, VA), and Molly Parmer (Atlanta, GA) |
| 8:15 am | Jury Nullification – William C. Snowden (New Orleans, LA) & Porsha-Shaf'on Venable (New Orleans, LA) |
| 9:15 am | Interrogating the Jury – Determining What They Believe from What They Say – Andre Vitale (Jersey City, NJ) |
| 10:15 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:35 am | Jury De-Selection – Martin Sabelli (San Francisco, CA) |
| 11:35 am | Race & Voir Dire – Dr. Heather Pruss (Louisville, KY) |
| 12:35 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:05 pm | Groundbreaking New Technology for Surveys, Focus Groups and Mock Trials – Robert Hirschhorn (Highland Village, TX) |
| 3:05 pm | Creative Jury Instructions – Marci G. LaBranche (Denver, CO) |
| 4:05 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:25 pm | Topic TBA – Speaker TBA (Location, US) |
| 5:25 pm | Adjourn for the day |
| 7:00 pm | Welcoming Reception - TBA |
| Friday, February 20, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks – Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President Andrew Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) & CLE Program Co-Chairs Steven Epstein (Garden City, NY), JoEllyn Jones (Bridgeton, NJ), Eugene Oliver (Harrisonburg, VA), and Molly Parmer (Atlanta, GA) |
| 8:10 am | Storyboarding, Storytelling, and Persuasion – Christopher Adams (Charleston, SC) & Marc Bookman (Philadelphia, PA) |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Committee Meetings Throughout the Day |
| 9:10 am | The Power of Storytelling – James Smith (Orlando, FL) |
| 10:10 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:30 am | How to Become a Courtroom Influencer – Kelli Childress (El Paso, TX) |
| 11:30 am | The Voice as a Tool to Communicate – Eric Davis (Houston, TX) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:00 pm | Powerful Persuasion – Juanita Kimble (Atlanta, GA) |
| 3:00 pm | Persuasive Use of Creative Demonstrative Evidence – Stephen P. Lindsay (Asheville, NC) |
| 4:00 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:20 pm | Topic TBA – Speaker TBA (Location, US) |
| 5:20 pm | Seminar Adjourns |
| Saturday, February 21, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Exhibit Hall Open |
| 9:00 am | NACDL Midwinter Membership and Board of Directors Meetings (All are encouraged to attend) |
| 1:00 pm | Enjoy New Orleans! |
Faculty
Christopher W. Adams (Charleston, SC) *NACDL MEMBER
Marc Bookman (Philadelphia, PA) *NACDL MEMBER
Kelli Childress (El Paso, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Eric Davis (Houston, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Robert Hirschhorn (Highland Village, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
Juanita Kimble (Atlanta, GA)
Marci G. LaBranche (Denver, CO) *NACDL MEMBER
Stephen P. Lindsay (Asheville, NC) *NACDL MEMBER
Dr. Heather Pruss (Louisville, KY)
Martin Sabelli (San Francisco, CA) *NACDL MEMBER
James W. Smith, III (Orlando, FL)
William C. Snowden (New Orleans, LA)
Porsha-Shaf'on Venable (New Orleans, LA) *NACDL MEMBER
Andre Vitale (Jersey City, NJ)
Hotel
Royal Sonesta Hotel
300 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/e/51026532
Phone Reservations: 504-586-0300
Group rate: $259 + tax (expires January 28, 2026). Please mention NACDL 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...
Thursday Night Reception Sponsor:
still available...
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
still available...
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Exhibitors -
Fat Pencil Studio
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 $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.
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 January 20, 2026.
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, and Sustaining Members | $439 |
| NACDL MEMBERS: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, "New Lawyer", International, and Military Members | $319 |
| Non-Members Private Practitioners (includes 1 year membership) | $768 |
| ALL Non-Members Public Defenders | $359 |
| ALL Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas 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 |
| 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 by 5:30 pm E.T. Friday, February 13, 2026, 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.
Learn More
