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2026 IPDA Fall Seminar Agenda

    Sessions in green indicate we are submitting for general professionalism credit; yellow - diversity credit; purple - mental health credit.  

Earn up to 7.5 hours of MCLE credit, including 3 hours of professionalism credit

(that includes 1 hour of Diversity and 1 hour of Mental Health credit)

 

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


Friday, November 6, 2026

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Blue = General CLE; Green = Professionalism CLE; Yellow = PR Diversity CLE; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird AB
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM
2026 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Scrutinizing Jury Composition: Lessons from Whiteside County
James Mertes, Managing Partner, The Mertes Law Firm, P.C.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM How to Clear a Criminal Record: Expungement and Sealing
Tiffany Boye Green, Director of Expungement, Office of the State Appellate Defender Expungement Unit 		Wrangling Witnesses: Working with Experts from Start to Finish
Theodore Thomas, Director of Professional Development and Wendy Steiner, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Litigating Originalism
Judith Miller, Clinical Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic and Jack Corfman, Federal Defender Program 		De-Escalation: A Crucial Skill to Improve the Client Relationship
Dr. Mike Oliverio, Staff Psychologist, Kane County Diagnostics Center
4:55 PM - 5:30 PM Earned Program Sentence Credits
Jennifer Maples, Deputy Chief, DuPage County Public Defender's Office and Amaris Danak, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender 		Protecting Innocent Families Act: An Introduction to the New Statute
Michelle Weidner, Executive Director, Family Justice Resource Center and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:15 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
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; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird AB
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM
2026 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Scrutinizing Jury Composition: Lessons from Whiteside County
James Mertes, Managing Partner, The Mertes Law Firm, P.C.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM How to Clear a Criminal Record: Expungement and Sealing
Tiffany Boye Green, Director of Expungement, Office of the State Appellate Defender Expungement Unit 		Wrangling Witnesses: Working with Experts from Start to Finish
Theodore Thomas, Director of Professional Development and Wendy Steiner, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Litigating Originalism
Judith Miller, Clinical Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic and Jack Corfman, Federal Defender Program 		De-Escalation: A Crucial Skill to Improve the Client Relationship
Dr. Mike Oliverio, Staff Psychologist, Kane County Diagnostics Center
4:55 PM - 5:30 PM Earned Program Sentence Credits
Jennifer Maples, Deputy Chief, DuPage County Public Defender's Office and Amaris Danak, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender 		Protecting Innocent Families Act: An Introduction to the New Statute
Michelle Weidner, Executive Director, Family Justice Resource Center and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:15 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
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; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird AB
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM
2026 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Scrutinizing Jury Composition: Lessons from Whiteside County
James Mertes, Managing Partner, The Mertes Law Firm, P.C.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 1 - Redbird CD
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM How to Clear a Criminal Record: Expungement and Sealing
Tiffany Boye Green, Director of Expungement, Office of the State Appellate Defender Expungement Unit
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM Litigating Originalism
Judith Miller, Clinical Professor of Law, The University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic and Jack Corfman, Federal Defender Program
4:55 PM - 5:30 PM Earned Program Sentence Credits
Jennifer Maples, Deputy Chief, DuPage County Public Defender's Office and Amaris Danak, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender
6:15 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
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; Purple = PR Mental Health CLE
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Illinois Council of Chief Defenders Meeting - Redbird AB
11:30 AM - 12:25 PM
2026 IPDA Fall Seminar Registration
Plenary Sessions - Redbird CD
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Case Law Update
Laura Weiler, Director of Training and Maggie Heim, Assistant Director of Training, Office of the State Appellate Defender
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Scrutinizing Jury Composition: Lessons from Whiteside County
James Mertes, Managing Partner, The Mertes Law Firm, P.C.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Afternoon Break: Beverages and Snacks Provided
Track 2 - Redbird EFG
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM Wrangling Witnesses: Working with Experts from Start to Finish
Theodore Thomas, Director of Professional Development and Wendy Steiner, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
3:50 PM - 4:50 PM De-Escalation: A Crucial Skill to Improve the Client Relationship
Dr. Mike Oliverio, Staff Psychologist, Kane County Diagnostics Center
4:55 PM - 5:30 PM Protecting Innocent Families Act: An Introduction to the New Statute
Michelle Weidner, Executive Director, Family Justice Resource Center and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
6:15 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
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 7, 2026

.
,
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 - 9:30 AM FAIR Act / Legislative Update
Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender; Elisabeth Pollock, Chief Public Defender, Champaign County Public Defender's Office; Nathan Rowland, Bonan Bonan & Rowland, LLC / Chief Public Defender, Gallatin County & Hamilton County
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM Preserving PFA Issues for Appeal: A Defense Guide to the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act
Manuela Hernandez, Supervisor and Eric Castañeda, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender - PFA Unit 		BEYOND UNMASKING: Reading Between the Blue Lines: Investigating Law Enforcement Witnesses & Law Enforcement Devices
Melissa Delgado, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Morning Break
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act
Dr. David Olson, Professor, Loyola University Chicago and Dr. Don Stemen, Professor, Loyola University Chicago 		The Sentencing Hearing: Preparation, Strategy, and Advocacy
Editha Rosario-Moore, Attorney Supervisor and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Redbird AB
.
,
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 - 9:30 AM FAIR Act / Legislative Update
Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender; Elisabeth Pollock, Chief Public Defender, Champaign County Public Defender's Office; Nathan Rowland, Bonan Bonan & Rowland, LLC / Chief Public Defender, Gallatin County & Hamilton County
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM Preserving PFA Issues for Appeal: A Defense Guide to the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act
Manuela Hernandez, Supervisor and Eric Castañeda, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender - PFA Unit 		BEYOND UNMASKING: Reading Between the Blue Lines: Investigating Law Enforcement Witnesses & Law Enforcement Devices
Melissa Delgado, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Morning Break
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act
Dr. David Olson, Professor, Loyola University Chicago and Dr. Don Stemen, Professor, Loyola University Chicago 		The Sentencing Hearing: Preparation, Strategy, and Advocacy
Editha Rosario-Moore, Attorney Supervisor and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Redbird AB

.
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 - 9:30 AM FAIR Act / Legislative Update
Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender; Elisabeth Pollock, Chief Public Defender, Champaign County Public Defender's Office; Nathan Rowland, Bonan Bonan & Rowland, LLC / Chief Public Defender, Gallatin County & Hamilton County
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM Preserving PFA Issues for Appeal: A Defense Guide to the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act
Manuela Hernandez, Supervisor and Eric Castañeda, Assistant Appellate Defender, Office of the State Appellate Defender - PFA Unit
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Morning Break
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM An Evaluation of the Implementation and Impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act
Dr. David Olson, Professor, Loyola University Chicago and Dr. Don Stemen, Professor, Loyola University Chicago
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Redbird AB

,
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 - 9:30 AM FAIR Act / Legislative Update
Sharlyn Grace, Deputy Public Defender, Policy, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender; Elisabeth Pollock, Chief Public Defender, Champaign County Public Defender's Office; Nathan Rowland, Bonan Bonan & Rowland, LLC / Chief Public Defender, Gallatin County & Hamilton County
9:35 AM - 10:35 AM BEYOND UNMASKING: Reading Between the Blue Lines: Investigating Law Enforcement Witnesses & Law Enforcement Devices
Melissa Delgado, Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
10:35 AM - 10:50 AM
Morning Break
10:50 AM - 11:50 AM The Sentencing Hearing: Preparation, Strategy, and Advocacy
Editha Rosario-Moore, Attorney Supervisor and Rory McHale, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM IPDA Board Meeting - Redbird AB

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