Winter Conference 2025
December 5-6, 2025
WINTER CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
MEMBERS, Please log in to register.
Choose Registration Option at Right
Early Bird Registration — Until November 25
Members:
Lawyers $285 | NonLawyers $200
NonMembers
Lawyers $445 | NonLawyers $305
Students — $25, includes $10 membership
Judges — $280
__________
Standard Registration — After November 25
Members:
Lawyers $310 | NonLawyers $225
NonMembers
Lawyers $470 | NonLawyers $325
Students — $50, includes $10 membership
Judges — $305
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 in advance via download link
• CLE credit
• Hot breakfast on Saturday
• Refreshments during breaks
______
Financial assistance?
Members contact OCDLA by November 25 about scholarships, payment plans or creative payment arrangements.
_______
Cancellations
Seminar cancellations made before December 1 will receive a refund less a $25 cancellation fee. Seminar cancellations made after December 1 will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation/written material fee. No-show policy: Written materials are emailed in advance to all participants. Audio recording downloads will be sent to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive audio recordings or a refund.
_______
No-show Policy
Written materials are sent in advance to all participants. Audio recording downloads well be sent to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive the recordings or a refund.
_______
CLE Credit
Credit will be applied for in Oregon. Oregon is an approved jurisdiction in California. For other state accreditation questions, call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
_______
Social Event Only Attendees
This option is for retired members or those not currently practicing law who do not want to attend the CLE but would like to attend the social events — coffee, snacks at breaks, one breakfast, and the Ken Morrow Award dinner.
MEMBERS, Please log in to register.
Choose Registration Option at Right
Early Bird Registration — Until November 25
Members:
Lawyers $285 | NonLawyers $200
Lawyers $445 | NonLawyers $305
Judges — $280
__________
Standard Registration — After November 25
Members:
Lawyers $310 | NonLawyers $225
Lawyers $470 | NonLawyers $325
Judges — $305
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 in advance via download link
• CLE credit
• Hot breakfast on Saturday
• Refreshments during breaks
______
Financial assistance?
Members contact OCDLA by November 25 about scholarships, payment plans or creative payment arrangements.
_______
Cancellations
Seminar cancellations made before December 1 will receive a refund less a $25 cancellation fee. Seminar cancellations made after December 1 will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation/written material fee. No-show policy: Written materials are emailed in advance to all participants. Audio recording downloads will be sent to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive audio recordings or a refund.
_______
No-show Policy
Written materials are sent in advance to all participants. Audio recording downloads well be sent to OCDLA members only; nonmembers who do not attend are ineligible to receive the recordings or a refund.
_______
CLE Credit
Credit will be applied for in Oregon. Oregon is an approved jurisdiction in California. For other state accreditation questions, call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
_______
Social Event Only Attendees
This option is for retired members or those not currently practicing law who do not want to attend the CLE but would like to attend the social events — coffee, snacks at breaks, one breakfast, and the Ken Morrow Award dinner.
OCDLA – Forensic Justice Project
FORENSICS TRAINING
Friday, December 5, 2025
Introduction (12:45–1:00 p.m.): Welcome; Short Discussion of Why Forensics Matter
Session One (1:00–2:30 p.m.): Evaluating Forensic Evidence in Your Case.
This session will focus on a discussion about how to evaluate forensic evidence to determine (1) whether you need to mount a challenge to the evidence and (2) what kind of expert(s) you need. The speakers will discuss: how to identify the need for a challenge to foundational validity versus validity-as-applied; how the type of challenge informs the type of expert(s) to consult; how to find the right expert(s) for foundational validity; how to organize materials for the lab for you and your expert to make use of; best practices for “file hygiene” to protect your work product and theirs; and tips for interviewing the state’s expert to better understand how the government may respond.
Speakers: Julia Leighton and Jennifer Friedman
Break (2:30–2:45 p.m.)
Session Two (2:45–4:00 p.m.): What Happens if You Lose the Admissibility Challenge.
This session will focus on the question of how to adapt your strategy if you lose the admissibility challenge. The speakers will discuss: strategies to reframe the forensics for trial; how to work with your expert(s) to change up the presentation by pivoting from a judge-friendly direct to a jury-friendly direct; and how to redesign your cross-examination of the state’s expert. The speakers will use the field of DNA to illustrate these topics.
Speakers: Jessica Willis and Elizabeth Daniel-Vasquez
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Session Three (9:00–10:15 a.m.): Litigating Cognitive Bias in Forensics.
This session will focus on how cognitive bias may impact the forensic examiner’s opinions. The speakers will discuss: what forms of cognitive bias come into play with forensics; how to explain to a judge or jury the significance of cognitive bias in a forensic examination; and how to present the issue of cognitive bias through direct of your own expert and cross-examination of the government’s expert. The speakers will use the field of latent prints to illustrate these topics.
Speakers: Byron Lichstein and Paul Rudof
Break (10:15–10:30 a.m.)
Session Four (10:30–11:30 a.m.): Keeping Up with the Evolving Nature of Forensics.
This session will focus on how the field of forensics is evolving over time in response to defense challenges. The speakers will use the field of firearms and toolmark analysis to discuss: the evolution of the scientific discourse; how long-term thinking and strategic planning changed the approach to admissibility challenges over time; how the examiners and the government have adapted their presentation of the evidence in response to favorable rulings.
Speakers: Richard Gutierrez, Celeste Addyman, and Emily Prokesch
Stretch Break (11:30–11:35 a.m.)
Session Five (11:35–12:00 p.m.): Preserving the Record for Appeal.
This session will focus on how to preserve the record from your pre-trial admissibility challenge all the way through trial. The speaker will provide concrete steps lawyers should take to make sure that the forensics issues can be effectively raised on appeal, including by: showing the trial court why the defense cannot simply address complex questions of scientific validity through cross-examination; when to ask for a standing objection versus when to keep objecting through trial; how to improve your record by asking for something “less” than complete exclusion or for helpful jury instructions; and other tips to avoid the “harmless error” trap.
Speaker: Neil Byl
FORENSICS TRAINING
Friday, December 5, 2025
Introduction (12:45–1:00 p.m.): Welcome; Short Discussion of Why Forensics Matter
Session One (1:00–2:30 p.m.): Evaluating Forensic Evidence in Your Case.
This session will focus on a discussion about how to evaluate forensic evidence to determine (1) whether you need to mount a challenge to the evidence and (2) what kind of expert(s) you need. The speakers will discuss: how to identify the need for a challenge to foundational validity versus validity-as-applied; how the type of challenge informs the type of expert(s) to consult; how to find the right expert(s) for foundational validity; how to organize materials for the lab for you and your expert to make use of; best practices for “file hygiene” to protect your work product and theirs; and tips for interviewing the state’s expert to better understand how the government may respond.
Speakers: Julia Leighton and Jennifer Friedman
Break (2:30–2:45 p.m.)
Session Two (2:45–4:00 p.m.): What Happens if You Lose the Admissibility Challenge.
This session will focus on the question of how to adapt your strategy if you lose the admissibility challenge. The speakers will discuss: strategies to reframe the forensics for trial; how to work with your expert(s) to change up the presentation by pivoting from a judge-friendly direct to a jury-friendly direct; and how to redesign your cross-examination of the state’s expert. The speakers will use the field of DNA to illustrate these topics.
Speakers: Jessica Willis and Elizabeth Daniel-Vasquez
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Session Three (9:00–10:15 a.m.): Litigating Cognitive Bias in Forensics.
This session will focus on how cognitive bias may impact the forensic examiner’s opinions. The speakers will discuss: what forms of cognitive bias come into play with forensics; how to explain to a judge or jury the significance of cognitive bias in a forensic examination; and how to present the issue of cognitive bias through direct of your own expert and cross-examination of the government’s expert. The speakers will use the field of latent prints to illustrate these topics.
Speakers: Byron Lichstein and Paul Rudof
Break (10:15–10:30 a.m.)
Session Four (10:30–11:30 a.m.): Keeping Up with the Evolving Nature of Forensics.
This session will focus on how the field of forensics is evolving over time in response to defense challenges. The speakers will use the field of firearms and toolmark analysis to discuss: the evolution of the scientific discourse; how long-term thinking and strategic planning changed the approach to admissibility challenges over time; how the examiners and the government have adapted their presentation of the evidence in response to favorable rulings.
Speakers: Richard Gutierrez, Celeste Addyman, and Emily Prokesch
Stretch Break (11:30–11:35 a.m.)
Session Five (11:35–12:00 p.m.): Preserving the Record for Appeal.
This session will focus on how to preserve the record from your pre-trial admissibility challenge all the way through trial. The speaker will provide concrete steps lawyers should take to make sure that the forensics issues can be effectively raised on appeal, including by: showing the trial court why the defense cannot simply address complex questions of scientific validity through cross-examination; when to ask for a standing objection versus when to keep objecting through trial; how to improve your record by asking for something “less” than complete exclusion or for helpful jury instructions; and other tips to avoid the “harmless error” trap.
Speaker: Neil Byl
The Benson Hotel, Portland, OR
Lodging at The Benson HotelCall 503-228-2000 / 1-888-774-1500 or email reservations@bensonhotel.com and identify yourself as part of the 2025 Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (OCDLA).Reservations must be made by November 17.
After this date rooms may not be available at our special rate of $182 king bed or 2 queen beds (urban view); $182 king corner room;
$182 king studio suite (urban view).
Parking — For those staying at the Benson the overnight valet parking rate is $39 per day (special OCDLA rate, regularly $49). For those not staying at the Benson, the parking rate is $9 per hour with a maximum of $25 per day (mention you are with OCDLA).
Registration will open later this year.