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2025 IPDA Fall Seminar Agenda

    Sessions in green indicate we are submitting for normal professionalism credit; yellow - diversity credit; purple - mental health credit.  As an accredited MCLE provider, the IPDA anticipates a final program awarding a maximum of 7.5 hours of general credit including up to 4 hours of professionalism credit (including 1 hour of diversity credit and 1 hour of mental health credit).

Your MCLE Certificate will be emailed to you after the program. 

 


Friday, November 7, 2025

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Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Yellow = PR Diversity CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird EFG
11:30 AM - 11:55 AM
2025 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM ICE in the Courthouse
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney, Lake County Public Defender's Office
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Utilizing the Science on False Confessions
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project 		Facing the Algorithm: Defense Strategies Against AI-Generated Police Narratives
Robert Thies, Investigator, Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri
3:20 PM - 4:20 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Illinois’ “Deception Ban”
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project 		Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Brandon Klages, Staff Attorney, Illinois Innocence Project, Shaun Hittle, Licensed Private Detective, Hittle Investigations
4:25 PM - 5:00 PM PFA Update
Carolyn Klarquist, Director of Pretrial Fairness Act Appeals, Office of the State Appellate Defender, Nathan Rowland, Chief Public Defender, Hamilton County Public Defender, Marie Henning, Assistant Public Defender, Kane County Public Defender’s Office 		Fall 2025 Legislative Update
Benjamin Ruddell, Director of Criminal Justice Policy, ACLU of Illinois, Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reception - Outside Redbird AB
Beer, wine, soft drinks will be served. Cash bar (cash only) for mixed drinks and beer/wine served after 7:00.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Awards Dinner - Redbird AB
Bruce Robert Jacob Award Recipients: Kevin McMahon, DuPage County, Sarah Lucey, OSAD, Pamela Rubeo, OSAD
8:45 PM - 9:45 PM Pub Trivia!
Stick around after the awards dinner for some fun pub trivia and an ice cream sundae bar!
.
.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Yellow = PR Diversity CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird EFG
11:30 AM - 11:55 AM
2025 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM ICE in the Courthouse
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney, Lake County Public Defender's Office
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Utilizing the Science on False Confessions
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project 		Facing the Algorithm: Defense Strategies Against AI-Generated Police Narratives
Robert Thies, Investigator, Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri
3:20 PM - 4:20 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Illinois’ “Deception Ban”
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project 		Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Brandon Klages, Staff Attorney, Illinois Innocence Project, Shaun Hittle, Licensed Private Detective, Hittle Investigations
4:25 PM - 5:00 PM PFA Update
Carolyn Klarquist, Director of Pretrial Fairness Act Appeals, Office of the State Appellate Defender, Nathan Rowland, Chief Public Defender, Hamilton County Public Defender, Marie Henning, Assistant Public Defender, Kane County Public Defender’s Office 		Fall 2025 Legislative Update
Benjamin Ruddell, Director of Criminal Justice Policy, ACLU of Illinois, Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reception - Outside Redbird AB
Beer, wine, soft drinks will be served. Cash bar (cash only) for mixed drinks and beer/wine served after 7:00.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Awards Dinner - Redbird AB
Bruce Robert Jacob Award Recipients: Kevin McMahon, DuPage County, Sarah Lucey, OSAD, Pamela Rubeo, OSAD
8:45 PM - 9:45 PM Pub Trivia!
Stick around after the awards dinner for some fun pub trivia and an ice cream sundae bar!

.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Yellow = PR Diversity CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird EFG
11:30 AM - 11:55 AM
2025 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM ICE in the Courthouse
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney, Lake County Public Defender's Office
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Utilizing the Science on False Confessions
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project
3:20 PM - 4:20 PM Litigating Coerced Confessions: Illinois’ “Deception Ban”
Lauren Gottesman, Senior Staff Attorney, Innocence Project
4:25 PM - 5:00 PM PFA Update
Carolyn Klarquist, Director of Pretrial Fairness Act Appeals, Office of the State Appellate Defender, Nathan Rowland, Chief Public Defender, Hamilton County Public Defender, Marie Henning, Assistant Public Defender, Kane County Public Defender’s Office
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reception - Outside Redbird AB
Beer, wine, soft drinks will be served. Cash bar (cash only) for mixed drinks and beer/wine served after 7:00.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Awards Dinner - Redbird AB
Bruce Robert Jacob Award Recipients: Kevin McMahon, DuPage County, Sarah Lucey, OSAD, Pamela Rubeo, OSAD
8:45 PM - 9:45 PM Pub Trivia!
Stick around after the awards dinner for some fun pub trivia and an ice cream sundae bar!

.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Yellow = PR Diversity CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird EFG
11:30 AM - 11:55 AM
2025 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM ICE in the Courthouse
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney, Lake County Public Defender's Office
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM Facing the Algorithm: Defense Strategies Against AI-Generated Police Narratives
Robert Thies, Investigator, Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri
3:20 PM - 4:20 PM Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma: Modern Scientific Developments and Their Effect on Investigative and Defensive Considerations
Brandon Klages, Staff Attorney, Illinois Innocence Project, Shaun Hittle, Licensed Private Detective, Hittle Investigations
4:25 PM - 5:00 PM Fall 2025 Legislative Update
Benjamin Ruddell, Director of Criminal Justice Policy, ACLU of Illinois, Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Reception - Outside Redbird AB
Beer, wine, soft drinks will be served. Cash bar (cash only) for mixed drinks and beer/wine served after 7:00.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Awards Dinner - Redbird AB
Bruce Robert Jacob Award Recipients: Kevin McMahon, DuPage County, Sarah Lucey, OSAD, Pamela Rubeo, OSAD
8:45 PM - 9:45 PM Pub Trivia!
Stick around after the awards dinner for some fun pub trivia and an ice cream sundae bar!

Saturday, November 8, 2025

.
.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
8:00 AM - 8:29 AM Continental Breakfast
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM IPDA Elections
8:40 AM - 9:40 AM Forensic Pathology Part 2
J. Scott Denton, M.D., Independent Forensic Pathologist 		Analyzing and Storing Video Discovery: What's Out There
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney and David Asma, Chief Investigator, Lake County Public Defender's Office
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM "Why can't you get me out of here?": Effective Strategies for Building a Strong Relationship with the Child Client
Shobha Mahadev, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Clinical Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Heather Ann Saunders, Assistant Director, Social Work Advocacy Program, Bluhm Legal Clinic 		Programs Overview for the Illinois Department of Corrections
Jennifer Parrack, Chief of Programs, Illinois Department of Corrections
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) in IDOC
Dr. William Puga, M.D., Chief of Psychiatry, Illinois Department of Corrections
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Jury Instructions: Trial Prep and Hot Issues in IPIs
Ronald Lewis, Chief Defender, McLean County Public Defender's Office, Kristen Nevdal, Deputy Chief Public Defender, DuPage County Public Defender's Office, Kara Kurland, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Erlinger v. U.S. and the Right to a Jury Determination of Facts Impacting Sentence
Laura Weiler, Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Beaufort Room
.
.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
8:00 AM - 8:29 AM Continental Breakfast
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM IPDA Elections
8:40 AM - 9:40 AM Forensic Pathology Part 2
J. Scott Denton, M.D., Independent Forensic Pathologist 		Analyzing and Storing Video Discovery: What's Out There
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney and David Asma, Chief Investigator, Lake County Public Defender's Office
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM "Why can't you get me out of here?": Effective Strategies for Building a Strong Relationship with the Child Client
Shobha Mahadev, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Clinical Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Heather Ann Saunders, Assistant Director, Social Work Advocacy Program, Bluhm Legal Clinic 		Programs Overview for the Illinois Department of Corrections
Jennifer Parrack, Chief of Programs, Illinois Department of Corrections
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) in IDOC
Dr. William Puga, M.D., Chief of Psychiatry, Illinois Department of Corrections
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Jury Instructions: Trial Prep and Hot Issues in IPIs
Ronald Lewis, Chief Defender, McLean County Public Defender's Office, Kristen Nevdal, Deputy Chief Public Defender, DuPage County Public Defender's Office, Kara Kurland, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Erlinger v. U.S. and the Right to a Jury Determination of Facts Impacting Sentence
Laura Weiler, Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Beaufort Room

.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
8:00 AM - 8:29 AM Continental Breakfast
Track 1 - Redbird CD
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM IPDA Elections
8:40 AM - 9:40 AM Forensic Pathology Part 2
J. Scott Denton, M.D., Independent Forensic Pathologist
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM "Why can't you get me out of here?": Effective Strategies for Building a Strong Relationship with the Child Client
Shobha Mahadev, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education and Clinical Professor of Law, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Heather Ann Saunders, Assistant Director, Social Work Advocacy Program, Bluhm Legal Clinic
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Jury Instructions: Trial Prep and Hot Issues in IPIs
Ronald Lewis, Chief Defender, McLean County Public Defender's Office, Kristen Nevdal, Deputy Chief Public Defender, DuPage County Public Defender's Office, Kara Kurland, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Beaufort Room

.
Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
8:00 AM - 8:29 AM Continental Breakfast
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
8:40 AM - 9:40 AM Analyzing and Storing Video Discovery: What's Out There
Keith Grant, Supervising Attorney and David Asma, Chief Investigator, Lake County Public Defender's Office
9:45 AM - 10:45 AM Programs Overview for the Illinois Department of Corrections
Jennifer Parrack, Chief of Programs, Illinois Department of Corrections
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Morning Break
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder) in IDOC
Dr. William Puga, M.D., Chief of Psychiatry, Illinois Department of Corrections
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Erlinger v. U.S. and the Right to a Jury Determination of Facts Impacting Sentence
Laura Weiler, Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Beaufort Room

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