Sunny Climate 2026
November 12–16, 2026 • CLE 11/14
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa – Kauai
November 12–16, 2026
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Main Travel Dates: November 12–16, 2026
CLE: Saturday, November 14
Welcome Reception: Friday, November 13
IACDL CLE Friday, 11/13 – See the agenda here.
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Speakers:
Marisa Feil, Senior Attorney, FWCanada, MontrealSpeakers:
Abraham V. Hutt, Attorney, Denver CO
Jeff Kukucka, PhD, Towson University, MD
David Nevin, Attorney, Boise ID
Colette Tvedt, Attorney, Denver CO
Earlybird Registration is open—$550, lawyers and nonlawyers. To register, click the Register button at left. Save $25 when you register by October 7. Read more about the venue & travel package under Venue.
Who may attend the Sunny Climate CLE? Defense lawyers, investigators, and those professionals and law students directly involved in the defense function.
CLE Registration Fee
Earlybird rate: $550 ($575 after Oct. 7)
CLE Registration Fee
Earlybird rate: $550 ($575 after Oct. 7)
Seminar registration includes:
• Seminar admission & CLE credit (approx. 6 credits)
• Written material emailed in advance
• Lunch & refreshments during the CLE
• Welcome Reception Nov. 13
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A minimum of one CLE registration is required for up to two package bookings per CLE registrant. See Venue for more information about the amazing travel package! • Seminar admission & CLE credit (approx. 6 credits)
• Written material emailed in advance
• Lunch & refreshments during the CLE
• Welcome Reception Nov. 13
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Seminar cancellation
Seminar cancellations made by November 5 will receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations made after November 6 — after material download link has been emailed — will receive a refund less a $150 cancellation/written material fee. No-shows will be sent a link to the recordings upon request.
OCDLA Sunny Climate Seminar
CLE • November 14, 2026
Marisa Feil, Senior Attorney, FWCanada, Montreal | Can your client travel to Canada?
Sean Hightower, Attorney, Nacogdoches TX | Ethics and AI
Abraham V. Hutt, Attorney, Denver CO | Storytelling in Cross
Jeff Kukucka, PhD, Towson University, MD | Grappling with Cognitive Bias
David Nevin, Attorney, Boise ID | Guantanamo Military Commissions
Colette Tvedt, Chief Municipal Public Defender, Denver CO | Effective Representation and Mitigation in Difficult Cases
Moderator: Shaun S. McCrea, OCDLA Executive Director, Eugene OR
Program
CLE credits: Approximately 5.5 general and 1 ethics credits, pending approval by the Oregon State Bar. For questions about CLE approval in others states, email Crystal Herron, cherron@ocdla.org.
7:30
Registration / Check-in (coffee/tea for registered attendees)
8:30
The Brain on Trial: Bias and Error in Forensic and Medical Decisions
Jeff Kukucka, PhD, Towson University, MD
Cognitive bias, a natural psychological phenomenon, can lead people to interpret the same information in different ways. This normally adaptive feature of human cognition can subvert forensic science and medicolegal decisions, including common sources of bias in forensic contexts and research-based safeguards that experts can (but often neglect to) implement. You will learn how to evaluate lab reports and other case materials for indications of bias, as well as how to effectively convey those weaknesses to non-experts.
10:00
Break
10:15
Tortured Litigation: Status Report from the Guantanamo Military Commissions
David Nevin, Attorney, Boise ID
Almost 25 years in, a discussion of where the GTMO prosecutions stand now, where they’re headed, and the hard lessons they teach about national security, secrecy, and the rule of law.
11:15
Crimes, Convictions & Canada: Can Your Client Cross the Border?
Marisa Feil, Senior Attorney, FWCanada, Montreal
A criminal record can create unexpected complications at the Canadian border. Learn:
- How past charges and convictions can affect travel to Canada.
- Options available to overcome those barriers.
- What lawyers should know when advising clients who need to cross the border.
We’ll also briefly touch on recent changes to Canada’s citizenship laws that may be relevant to some clients.
12:15
Lunch (included for registered attendees)
1:15
Effective Representation and Mitigation in Cases Involving Serious Mental Health Challenges
Colette Tvedt, Chief Municipal Public Defender, Denver CO
How to effectively represent clients with significant mental health challenges, including
- Recognizing mental health conditions.
- Communicating and working productively with clients and their families.
- Selecting and collaborating with qualified experts.
We will also cover:
- Conducting thorough mitigation investigations.
- Preparing compelling sentencing memorandum.
- Delivering persuasive advocacy at sentencing.
2:15
Break
2:30
Storytelling in Cross
Abraham V. Hutt, Attorney, Denver CO
Abe Hutt, one of NACDL’s all-time top-rated presenters, will lecture on how to get your client’s story to the jury during cross-examination of the prosecution’s key witnesses. You’ll be learning cross-examination from the one of the lawyers for legendary gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.
3:30
Ethics and AI
Sean Hightower, Nacogdoches, TX
4:30
Adjourn
Travel & Lodging Package
November 12–16, 2026
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, HI
Package Price
$1499 roundtrip from Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Based on per person/double occupancy. Single supplement: add $600.
Other departure cities available upon request.
Package Includes
• Roundtrip air travel from Portland, Seattle, LA, San Francisco
• Four nights in a standard Resort View room (with high speed internet wifi), Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, HI (upgrades to pool view, partial ocean view or ocean view rooms available).
Deposit
$500 deposit per person required to reserve travel package. Airfare subject to change until paid in full. Full travel payment due by August 30, 2026.
To Reserve a Spot
Contact Tom Cronkrite at TravelPro, direct: 503-720-9081, tom@tomtravel.net.
Notes
• Add extra days to the package for even more savings.
• The hotel & travel package is open to all family and friends of CLE attendees. A minimum of one CLE registration is required for up to two package bookings per CLE registrant.
Travel Cancellation/Fee
The airline portion of the travel package is nonrefundable. In addition, any cancellation after September 1, 2026, will be assessed a $250.00 cancellation fee in addition to non-refundable airline costs. Airfare subject to change until travel paid in full.
Registration Instructions
Click "Add New Registrant" and choose your ticket type. Enter name and email address, then click "Save." Then click "Checkout." Important: You must click the yellow Save button to add the ticket to your cart, before you can check out.