Battling Blood and Beyond:
DUII Litigation and Defense
March 13–14, 2026 • Hood River Inn, Hood River
Friday, March 13
1:00 pm – 5:15 pm, followed by a Welcome Reception—light snacks provided, no-host bar.
Saturday, March 14
9:00 am – 1:15 pm, includes hot breakfast @8am
See Agenda at left
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With the passage of HB 2473, we are very likely to see a surge in blood samples and testing in driving under the influence cases. Police officers will now also become phlebotomists and as defense attorneys, we need to be ready to combat the science that will come along with these developments. The spring OCDLA conference is designed to help practitioners become more comfortable with and better equipped to attack government evidence in these cases. The conference will focus on the science of blood and urine testing, litigation and strategy, legal arguments, discovery, and recent caselaw developments. We hope to see you in Hood River to start battling the blood! —Kristen Ham, Marcus Gunn for the Education Committee.
Members: Please log in to register.
Earlybird Registration—through MARCH 3
Members: Lawyers $275 • NonLawyers $180
NonMembers: Lawyers $425 • NonLawyers $330
Law Students — $25, with membership included
Standard Registration—beginning MARCH 4
Members: Lawyers $300 • NonLawyers $205
NonMembers: Lawyers $450 • NonLawyers $355
Law Students — $50, with membership included
• Stunning views of the Columbia Gorge & superb low rates beginning at $129/night, with river views at $189/night.
• Cutting-edge presentations to bring you up-to-date!
• Fabulous reception Friday night – get together with your fellow defenders again!
Program coordinated by Marcus Gunn and Kristen Ham for the OCDLA Education Committee. Take a look at the Agenda tab (at left).
Trial Practice Workshop
Once again, OCDLA offers a Friday morning half-day DUII trial practice workshop featuring Simon Whang & Alex Fletcher.
Click over to the DUII TRIAL PRACTICE WORKSHOP
https://ocdla.my.site.com/OcdlaEvent?id=a23VJ00000Ah64P
event for more details.
Who may attend?
This program is open to defense lawyers and those professionals and law students directly involved in the defense function.
_______
What’s included in the fee?
• Seminar admission (Fri.–Sat.)
• Written material download in advance
• Friday reception
• Hot breakfast Saturday
• Refreshments at the breaks
• CLE credit
• Networking, relaxing, a great time!
Financial assistance?
Members contact OCDLA by March 3 about scholarships, payment plans, or creative payment arrangements.
Cancellations
Cancellations made before March 9 will receive a refund less a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations made after March 9 — once material download link has been emailed — will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation/written material fee. No-show policy: Written materials are emailed in advance to all participants. Access to a conference recording will be made available to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive audio recordings or a refund.
If You Register But Can't Attend
If you register but can't attend we will provide members with access to a recording after the conference.
CLE Credit
Credit pending in Oregon and Washington. OCDLA is an approved jurisdiction in California. OCDLA is an approved Department of Public Safety Standards and Training CLE provider. For other state accreditation questions call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
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2026 OCDLA Annual Conference
June 11–13, Riverhouse, Bend
Potential CLE credits: 15.75 general, 1 abuse reporting.
Program Speakers, Topics and Times subject to change.
Thursday, June 11
Moderator TBA
Public Defense Commission
9:00 a.m. Public Defense Services Commission Meeting (adjourns 12:30 p.m.)
Investigation Track
Noon
Registration / Exhibitors
1:00p
Update on the Profession
Legislative changes, access to ecourt changes, OPDS wage and other issues, investigation-relevant law changes, and what is likely to happen in the coming year.
James Comstock, Investigator, Portland
2:00
Evidence View
Henry Brown, Investigator, Portland
3:00
Break / Door Prizes
3:15
Topic TBA
4:15
Breakouts
How to Bill State & Federal Cases for New PIs
Steve Wilson, Investigator, Portland
Discovery Obligations
James Comstock, Investigator, Portland
4:45
Adjourn for the day.
5:30
Welcome Reception
Open to attendees and attendees’ families. Vegan & kid friendly!
7:00
DEI Committee BIPOC Meetup
Defenders and investigators of color are invited to attend a reception hosted by OCDLA’s DEI committee. The committee is committed to building community for defenders of color and looks forward to forming new connections at this event. Hosted wine, sodas and desserts.
Friday, June 12
Moderator TBA
7:30
Yoga with S. Amanda Marshall
7:45
Continental Breakfast (included)
8:30
Reality Capture: Modern Scene Documentation
Andrew Borges, Investigator, Albany
Modern reality capture tools enable professionals to document scenes comprehensively from both aerial and ground perspectives. This session will demonstrate how drones, conventional cameras, and LiDAR-enabled mobile devices can be used to produce highly accurate maps and 3D models when paired with appropriate workflows, equipment, and processing software. These deliverables can support case planning, expert analysis and courtroom presentation. They can also assist other experts, such as crash reconstructionists, by providing reliable spatial data and measurements for their work. When collected using proper workflows, these models can achieve centimeter-level accuracy and preserve conditions close in time to the incident, resulting in visuals that provide counsel with a current, objective representation of the scene under conditions similar to those at issue in the case.
9:30
Break / Door Prizes
9:45
President’s Awards & Board of Directors Candidate Statements
10:00
Topic TBA
11:00
Not So Intelligent Yet: AI Pitfalls for Attorneys and Investigators
Eli Rosenblatt, Investigator, Portland
AI is rapidly becoming more useful for legal professionals of all kinds, in myriad scenarios. Yet teams in all areas of law continue to be confronted with AI hallucinations, privacy concerns, and missing information. In this session, we’ll explore recent trends, sanctions, best practices, and prospects for the future.
12:00
Break / Transition
12:15
Lunch (included)
Sponsored by TravelPro, Tigard
12:15
Board of Directors Meeting
1:15
AI Use by Law Enforcement
Joshua Cohen, Fat Pencil Studio, Portland
2:30
Break/transition; Board of Directors meeting concludes
2:45
Digital Forensics for the Defense: What the Evidence Really Shows
Understanding Mobile Device Extraction, Law Enforcement Limitations, and How to Effectively Challenge Digital Evidence
Scott King, Investigator, Corvallis
Digital evidence is increasingly central to criminal cases, but most defense attorneys receive a Cellebrite report without the tools or context to evaluate what it actually contains, what was excluded, and where the process may have gone wrong. This session provides a practical attorney-focused walkthrough of how mobile devices are forensically examined, what legal constraints govern law enforcement during extraction and analysis, and how to use Cellebrite Reader to conduct your own independent review. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies for challenging digital evidence, identifying what to demand in discovery, and knowing when to call a forensic expert.
3:45
Break Transition
4:00
AI Tools for PIs
Steven Marrocco, Investigator, Salem
5:00
Mentorship Speed Dating
Find yourself a mentor/mentee! Newbies meet experienced PIs, share your stories, make connections
5:30
Adjourn for the day
Saturday, June 13
8:00
Hot Breakfast (included)
8:30
Prison Experience from a Former Defendant
Mark Wilson, Oregon Justice Resource Center, Portland
9:30
Break
9:45
Small Group Ethical Issues Workshop (Ethics)
James Comstock, Steve Wilson
10:45
OCDLA Business Meeting
- Introduce New Board Members
- Announce Juvenile Law Award Recipients
- Sunny Climate Raffle Drawing
11:00
OPTIONAL Join General Sessions Abuse Reporting Session
Michael Rees, Metropolitan Public Defenders, Portland
12:00
CLE Adjourns
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2026 OCDLA Annual Conference
June 11–13, Riverhouse, Bend
Potential CLE credits: 15.75 general, 1 abuse reporting.
Program Speakers, Topics and Times subject to change.
Thursday, June 11
Moderator TBA
Public Defense Commission
9:00 a.m. Public Defense Services Commission Meeting (adjourns 12:30 p.m.)
General Sessions Track
Noon
Registration / Exhibitors
1:00p
Legislative Session Wrap: Bills & Breakdowns
Mae Lee Browning, OCDLA Legislative Director, with:
Thad Betz, Bend; Janis Puracal, Forensic Justice Project, Portland
Come learn which bills passed this session, with updates from Thad on Torres-Lopez and Janis on the junk science PCR bill.
2:00
Unscrambling Eggs: Trying to Make Sense of Prior Bad Acts Case Law
Sara Werboff and Dave Ferry, Oregon Public Defense Commission Appellate Division
Have you been confused since State v. Williams about which of your clients’ prior acts are admissible to prove he’s just that kind of guy? Has the string of ever-changing formulations from the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court got you bewildered? Do you know what to do with the reasoning of Davis? Tune in for the best current arguments we can muster to keep out this case-altering and incredibly unfair evidence and to hear our predictions about what the appellate courts will do next.
3:00
Break / Door Prizes
3:15
Bail and Pretrial Detention: How to keep clients out of jail prior to trial
Alec Karakatsanis, Director, Civil Rights Corps, Washington, D.C.
The session will talk about how to fight against pretrial detention, both mastering the applicable law and also how to use creative tactics and narrative to prevent clients from being detained prior to trial. In addition to digging into the relevant constitutional law and tangible strategy, we'll talk about how to counter certain myths and propaganda about bail that infects judicial decision-making.
4:15
Sex Offender Registration
Jesse Lohrke, Springfield
5:15
CLE adjourns for the day.
5:30
Welcome Reception
Open to attendees and attendees’ families. Vegan & kid friendly!
7:00
DEI Committee BIPOC Meetup
Defenders and investigators of color are invited to attend a reception hosted by OCDLA’s DEI committee. The committee is committed to building community for defenders of color and looks forward to forming new connections at this event. Hosted wine, sodas and desserts.
Friday, June 12
Moderator TBA
7:30
Yoga with S. Amanda Marshall
7:45
Continental Breakfast (included)
8:30
Appellate Update
Brett Allin, Oregon Public Defense Commission Appellate Division
This presentation will cover the greatest hits from the Oregon Supreme Court and Court of Appeals in the last year: pretrial elections, right to counsel, search & seizure, and much more. It will also offer practical tips for how to use appellate decisions in your trial practice. You won’t want to miss it!
9:30
Break / Door Prizes
9:45
President’s Awards & Board of Directors Candidate Statements
10:00
Protective Orders in Oregon: Criminal Law Considerations & Updates in the Law
Ben Scissors, Hillsboro
Protective orders are fast and loose: they move quickly, there is little time to prepare evidence and witnesses, and often the rules of evidence are relaxed. That dynamic has significant implications for a client navigating a parallel criminal case or facing potential criminal exposure. This CLE covers strategic thinking in these cases, ethical considerations, and recent updates in the law.
11:00
When the DA Crosses the Line (State v Strain)
Grant Cole, Metropolitan Public Defenders, Portland
12:00
Break / Transition
12:15
Lunch (included)
Sponsored by TravelPro, Tigard
12:15
Board of Directors Meeting
1:15
PCR
Zachary Newland, Evergreen, CO
Generously sponsored by Zack Stern, Salem
2:30
Break/transition; Board of Directors meeting concludes
2:45
Breakout: Felony Sentencing 101 (sentencing guidelines)
Tim Fleming, Public Defender Services of Lane County, Eugene
Breakout: The Psychology of Adolescent Development: What Criminal Defense Attorneys Should Know
Keiler Beers, Metropolitan Public Defenders, Portland
Over the past several decades, advances in neuroscience and evolving legal standards have converged to confirm a fundamental truth: adolescents are developmentally different from adults in ways that directly impact culpability, decision-making, and capacity for change. This training explores how those insights have reshaped the legal landscape—and what that means in practice. Participants will leave with concrete strategies to more effectively advocate for clients under 18 as well as emerging adults ages 18–25.
Breakout: Becoming Trauma-Informed Advocators
Robert Miller, FARA
We will take a journey to increase our capacity to understand our clients. Trauma‑informed services is an educational approach that recognizes how stress or past trauma can affect an individual's ability to learn and engage. It emphasizes creating safe, supportive environments where individuals feel understood and empowered. Facilitators use strategies that prioritize trust, choice, and emotional wellbeing to help all learners succeed.
3:45
Break
4:00
Breakout: Felony Sentencing 102
Brendan Hooks, Metropolitan Public Defender, Hillsboro
Breakout: When the State Wants to Silence Their Witness
Jennifer Myrick, Portland
This will be an informative session discussing methods attorneys can use to immunize a witness from prosecution and utilize Due Process to ensure the truth comes out. Diving into established practices as well as emerging doctrines, we will examine the issues witnesses face when their story disproves the State's narrative.
Breakout: What You Need to Know About Delinquency Law, or Kids Have Rights Too: A Delinquency Primer
Matthew Murphy, Youth, Rights, Justice, Portland
Norah Van Dusen, Levi Merrithew Horst, Portland
Topics of discussion will include:
- unique ethical and constitutional considerations when representing teenagers
- dispositional alternatives and possibilities
- sex offenses and determination hearings
- collateral consequences
- waiver
5:00
CLE adjourns for the day.
Saturday, June 13
Moderator: New OCDLA President
8:00
Hot Breakfast (included)
9:00
Family Matters: Civil Cases, Domestic Relations and Domestic Violence
Lisa Ludwig & Robin Runstein, Portland
With 30 years each of experience representing clients in criminal and domestic relations cases, Lisa and Robin will share what to know when your clients are facing a charge alleging domestic violence when there are corresponding domestic relations and/or protection order matters. Learn ways to leverage adjacent family court litigation and how to avoid pitfalls.
10:30
Break / Door Prizes
10:45
OCDLA Business Meeting
- Introduce New Board Members
- Announce Juvenile Law Award Recipients
- Sunny Climate Raffle Drawing
11:00
Child / Elder Abuse
Michael Rees, Metropolitan Public Defenders, Portland
12:00
Adjourn
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2025 Annual Conference: Fighting Forward
June 12–14, 2025
Riverhouse on the Deschutes, Bend
Criminal and juvenile defense is hard work.
No matter how much we prepare, no matter how hard we try, no matter how right we are—judges make bad rulings, juries give bad verdicts, and, yes, clients make bad decisions.
We can’t fight back. The past is past. But we can Fight Forward.
We can persevere and be stronger. This year’s conference is designed to help you Fight Forward with greater confidence, strategies, and fresh perspectives. Join us in Bend and recharge!
“Anger will only weaken you and if you really want to piss off the people who did this, forgive them.” —Ola Obisanya, Ted Lasso.
____________
Who may attend the Annual Conference?
This program is open to defense lawyers and those professionals and law students directly involved in the defense function.
_______
Lodging: Riverhouse on the Deschutes
OCDLA's Special Room Rates start at $206/night for a lodge king/double queen
Additional information under the Venue tab.
Click here to book your reservations
You must book by Monday, May 12, 2025
_______
This conference will not be streamed. The CLE presentations will be recorded for those who cannot attend.
* * * MEMBERS, PLEASE LOG IN. * * *
Early Bird Registration — Until June 2
Members
Lawyers $380 • Nonlawyers $300 • SPPE $200
Nonmembers*
Lawyers $545 • Nonlawyers $420
Students — $25, with membership included
Standard Registration — After June 2
Members
Lawyers $405 • Nonlawyers $325 • SPPE $225
Nonmembers*
Lawyers $570 • Nonlawyers $445
Students — $50, with membership included
*Nonmembers: If you are an investigator or other nonlawyer legal professional, join OCDLA at the regular rate of $150/year, good through June 30, 2026, and you will be eligible for member pricing for the conference plus get the remainder of this membership year – through June 30, 2025 – absolutely free! Lawyers may join at the rate of $265/year as a member of the bar four years or less, or $370/year for practitioners over 5 years. Contact staff at 541/686-8716 to sign up.
Defense Investigation Track — Concurrent with the CLE conference, a special, dual track of presentations will focus on defense investigation. See the "Investigation Track" tab at left. Registration authorizes attendance for BOTH TRACKS of presentations, all meals and events. For each time slot, attendees choose which presentation to attend. Attorneys attending the investigation track OSB CLE–eligible presentations will need to sign in.
Thanks to Steve Wilson and James Comstock, chairs of the Oregon Licensed Investigators Committee, for planning this special track.
CLE presentations will be recorded for purchase by those who do not register for the conference and will be made available to those who register and are unable to attend. No-shows will be asked which track of presentations they wish to receive (General Session or Investigation). Packages and pricing will be determined after the conference.
In person attendance at a presentation at either track is an election; only no-shows will receive post-conference recordings. Registered attorneys at the conference who attend investigation track presentations are not eligible to receive recordings of concurrent presentations.
Social Events Only
$150, includes all meals (Thursday reception, breakfast, lunch and reception Friday, and Saturday breakfast).
Written Materials Hard Copy
Pre-orders due by Thursday, June 5
General Session written materials in hard copy: $48.
Investigation Track written materials in hard copy: $30.
What’s included in the Annual Conference fee?
• Seminar admission (Thurs.–Sat.)
• Written material download in advance
• Thursday evening opening welcome reception
• Continental breakfast and lunch Friday
• Friday Night Reception
• Hot breakfast Saturday
• Refreshments at the breaks
• CLE credit
• Networking, relaxing, a great time!
Financial assistance?
Members contact OCDLA by June 2 about scholarships, payment plans, or creative payment arrangements.
Cancellations
Cancellations made before June 9 will receive a refund less a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations made after June 9 — once material download link has been emailed — will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation/written material fee. No-show policy: Written materials are emailed in advance to all participants. Access to a conference recording will be made available to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive audio recordings or a refund.
If You Register But Can't Attend
If you register but can't attend we will provide members with access to a recording after the conference.
CLE Credit
Credit pending in Oregon and Washington. OCDLA is an approved jurisdiction in California. OCDLA is an approved Department of Public Safety Standards and Training CLE provider. For other state accreditation questions call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
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Juvenile Law Training Academy
Stand By Me: Juvenile court advocacy in an era of change
October 8–9, 2018 | Eugene, OR
Juvenile court is very dynamic right now. Sure, one could argue it is always a time of “change,” right? For our purposes here, the faculty for the 2018 academy will have much to share to get/keep you up-to-date in areas most directly impacting your practice.
This seminar is for all juvenile court stakeholders including attorneys for children, parents and the government, DHS child welfare staff, CASAs, and CRB members.
Sponsoring and Coordinating Organizations:
Sponsors: Juvenile Court Improvement Project, OSB Juvenile Law Section, Office of Public Defense Services, OCDLA; with invaluable assistance from: CASA Program, DHS Child Welfare Program, Dept. of Justice, Marian Co. District Attorney's Office, UO School of Law, and Youth, Rights and Justice Attorneys at Law.
2026 Annual Conference
Accusation Alchemy: Transform Your Defenses
June 11–13, 2026 • Riverhouse, Bend
________
Who may attend the Annual Conference?
This program is open to defense lawyers and those professionals and law students directly involved in the defense function.
Lodging:
• Rate: $221 / $236
• Reservation Deadline May 11, 2026
Ticketing:
Members, please log in for discounted rates.
Early Bird registration deadline: June 1
Members
Lawyers $430 • Nonlawyers $350 • SPPE $250
Law Students $50
Nonmembers
Lawyers $595 • Nonlawyers $470
Law Students $50, with membership included
Standard registration begins: June 2
Members
Lawyers $455 • Nonlawyers $375 • SPPE $275
Law Students $75
Nonmembers
Lawyers $620 • Nonlawyers $495
Law Students $75, with membership included
What’s included in the fee?
• Seminar admission (Thurs.–Sat.)
• Written material download
• Thursday evening opening welcome reception
• Continental breakfast and buffet lunch Friday
• Hot breakfast Saturday
• Refreshments at the breaks
• CLE credit
• Networking, relaxing, a great time!
_____
INVESTIGATION TRACK—Concurrent with the CLE conference, a special dual track of presentations will focus on defense investigation. Program visible at left!
Registration authorizes attendance for BOTH TRACKS of presentations, all meals and events. For each time slot, attendees choose which presentation to attend. Attorneys attending the investigation track OSB CLE-eligible presentations will need to sign in.
Thanks to Steve Wilson and James Comstock, chairs of the Oregon Licensed Investigators Committee, for planning this special track.
CLE presentations will be recorded for purchase by those who do not register for the conference and will be made available to those who register and are unable to attend. No-shows will be asked which track of presentations they wish to receive (General Session or Investigation). Packages and pricing will be determined after the conference.
In person attendance at a presentation at either track is an election; only no-shows will receive post-conference recordings. Registered attorneys at the conference who attend investigation track presentations are not eligible to receive recordings of concurrent presentations.
___
Financial Assistance
Members contact OCDLA by June 1 about scholarships, payment plans, or creative payment arrangements.
Cancellations
Cancellations made before June 8 will receive a refund less a $25 cancellation fee. Cancellations made after June 8 — once material download link has been emailed — will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation/written material fee. No-show policy: Written materials are emailed in advance to all participants. Access to a conference recording will be made available to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive audio recordings or a refund.
Recording / Attendance
This conference will not be streamed. The CLE presentations will be recorded for those who cannot attend. If you register but can't attend members will be provided audio recordings after the conference.
CLE Credit
Credit pending in Oregon and Washington. OCDLA is an approved jurisdiction in California. OCDLA is an approved Department of Public Safety Standards and Training CLE provider. For other state accreditation questions call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
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Death Penalty Defense
Practical Skills for Defending Impractical Cases
October 26–27 | Sunriver Resort
You don’t have to be a capital defender to gather new skills and strategies. Take a look at the following topics that will help improve your practice:
Crime Lab Discovery: Where They Hide Their Misconduct
Kelley Kulick, Deputy Public Defender in San Jose, Calif., and Karen Lawless, forensic consultant, Forest Grove, Ore., will address how to discover crime lab errors. Think mitigation interviews don’t translate to other major felony cases? Think again. Mary Goody will take us through the terrain of interviewing witnesses to ferret out those crucial factors that can help you win. Lois Heaney, a senior litigation specialist in Oakland, Calif., will provide new strategies to oppose death qualification—an excellent primer for anyone considering capital work and also anyone fascinated with the psychology of jury selection.
Read more and register here.
Public Defense Management
Managing for Better Results
October 25–26 | Sunriver Resort
Malia N. Brink, Associate Counsel for Public Defense, ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants, Washington, DC, is presenting on the upcoming ABA Caseload/Workload Study on Friday morning at the seminar. Her presentation will be integrated with the Public Defense Services Commission meeting, as she and the Commission discuss the dimensions of the study, goals and the impact on you.
Malia Brink has spent over 15 years working on criminal justice reform issues with a focus on public defense reform. Join her and fellow lawyers, staff and managers who have the common goal of improving public defense for this important training.
Read more and register here.
Defending Sex Cases
BRAND NEW! OCDLA’s long-awaited manual for trying sex cases is here. Ever feel like you’re fighting a Hydra-headed prosecution when defending sex crime allegations? Being double or triple teamed by the Multidisciplinary Team? Facing child complainants contaminated by ongoing prosecution interviews? Fighting motions to admit prior bad acts?
So many questions when you’re looking for answers!
The answers are here. OCDLA is proud to release the long-awaited Defending Sex Cases manual! You will find it was worth the wait. telling the defendant’s story, evaluating physical findings, challenging hearsay and other act evidence, false memories, how to try the case: jury selection, cross-examination, jury instructions – and so much more! Lessons about handling complex, difficult cases — information you can use in other types of cases — from people who’ve been in the trenches. Three years in the making!
Read more.