Agenda Faculty Hotel Exhibitor/Sponsor Scholarships Pricing Register Online Register by PDF
REGISTER TODAY!
NACDL is excited to invite defenders to experience its 10th Annual Seminar "Race Matters: The Intersection of Race in the Criminal Legal System" This powerful and illuminating annual event will return to its origins in Detroit, MI, May 19-21, 2027, location of the inaugural event in 2017.
Race Matters...in EVERY criminal case. Join us in Detroit!
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Wednesday, May 19, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 3:00-6:00 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| 6:30 pm | Opening Reception |
| Thursday, May 20, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks – NACDL President NACDL President C. Melissa “Missy” Owen (Charlotte, NC) |
| 8:10 am | Remarks and Announcements – Program Co-Chairs: Alice Fontier (New York, NY), Todd Pugh (Chicago, IL), and Lonnie M. Randolph II (East Chicago, IN) |
| 8:15 am | KEYNOTE: Why Race in America Still Matters – Jeffery Robinson (Seattle, WA) |
| 10:15 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:35 am | Race and the 4th Amendment – Juval Scott (Bronx, NY) |
| 11:35 am | TOPIC TBA – Michael Carter (Detroit, MI) |
| 12:35 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:05 pm | The Intersection of Attorney and Client Archetypes: Ethics & Race in the Representation of Minority or Marginalized Persons – Francisco ‘Frank’ Morales (Corpus Christi, TX) |
| 3:05 pm | TOPIC TBA – Brandi Harden (Washington, DC) and Heather Pinckney (Washington, DC) |
| 4:05 pm | Adjourn for the Day |
| 4:15 pm | Local History Excursion - Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History |
| Friday, May 21, 2027 | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:00 am | Morning Announcements – Alice Fontier (New York, NY), Todd Pugh (Chicago, IL), and Lonnie M. Randolph II (East Chicago, IN) |
| 8:10 am | Does the Race of the Lawyer Matter? A Conversation – Shaun C. Kent (Manning, SC) and Alice Fontier (New York, NY) |
| 9:10 am | Where Prejudice is Alive and Well: Defending Defendants in the Melting Pot – Diego Weiner (Miami, FL) |
| 10:10 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:30 am | TOPIC TBA – Drew Findling (Atlanta, GA) and Marissa Goldberg (Atlanta, GA) |
| 11:30 am | Restorative Justice Within Urban Communities – JoEllyn Jones (Bridgeton, NJ) and Ryan Young (Vineland, NJ) |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:00 pm | Judicial Perspective on Race – Hon. D’Anthony Thedford, Cook County Circuit Court, Pre-Trial Division (Chicago, IL) |
| 3:00 pm | Race and Voting Rights – Seth P. Chazin (San Francisco, CA) |
| 4:00 pm | Seminar adjourns until 2028! |
| 4:15 pm | Local History Excursion - TBA |
Faculty
- Michael Carter (Detroit, MI) *NACDL MEMBER
- Seth P. Chazin (San Francisco, CA) *NACDL MEMBER
- Drew Findling (Atlanta, GA) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Alice Fontier (New York, NY) *NACDL MEMBER
- Marissa Goldberg (Atlanta, GA) *NACDL MEMBER
- Brandi Harden (Washington, DC) *NACDL MEMBER
- JoEllyn L. Jones (Bridgeton, NJ) *NACDL MEMBER
- Shaun C. Kent (Manning, SC) *NACDL MEMBER
- Francisco ‘Frank’ Morales (Corpus Christi, TX) *NACDL MEMBER
- Heather N. Pinckney (Washington, DC) *NACDL MEMBER
- Jeffery Robinson (Seattle, WA) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Juval Scott (Bronx, NY) *NACDL MEMBER
- Hon. D’Anthony Thedford, Cook County Circuit Court, Pre-Trial Division (Chicago, IL) *NACDL MEMBER
- Diego Weiner (Miami, FL) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Ryan Young (Vineland, NJ)
Hotel
Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
400 Renaissance Dr W
Detroit, MI 48243
Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/go/NACDLRaceMattersEvent
Phone Reservations: (313) 568-8000
Group rate: $259 plus tax - expires April 28, 2027.
Please mention code NACDL to receive applicable dicount 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 Sponsors:
still available...
Event Sponsors:
still available...
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
still available...
Tote Bag Sponsor:
still available...
Conference Pen & Pads Sponsor:
still available...
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 $354. Approved recipients are responsible for the remainder of the tuition fee, which is $177 (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 April 20, 2027.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP IS 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 | $354 |
| NACDL MEMBERS: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, "New Lawyer", International, and Military Members | $279 |
| Non-Members: Private Practice (includes 1 year membership) | $718 |
| ALL Non-Members Public Defenders | $299 |
| ALL Michigan, IA, IL, IN, MN, OH and WI Lawyers (Residents Only) | $289 |
| 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 | $269 |
| 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, May 14, 2027, 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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