Agenda

Event Details

The Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center, SMU Dedman School of Law, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) are proud to host this full day of events for students. Click the link below to learn more about our distinguished guests and panelists, and scroll down for detailed information about our programming.
Featured Speakers

Student Programming Schedule

(All times central)

10:00 AM

Student arrival/check-in

 

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Panel: Pipeline to Public Defense          

 

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Lunch (boxed lunches provided)

 

12:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Panel: Public Defense Opportunities in Texas

 

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Break

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Roundtable: Answering Gideon’s Call in Every Community

 

4:00 - 5:00 PM

Campus tours

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Panel: Pipeline to Public Defense          

 

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Lunch (boxed lunches provided)

 

12:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Panel: Public Defense Opportunities in Texas

 

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Break

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Roundtable: Answering Gideon’s Call in Every Community

 

4:00 - 5:00 PM

Networking mixer

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Lunch available

 

12:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Panel: Public Defense Opportunities in Texas

 

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Break

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Roundtable: Answering Gideon’s Call in Every Community

 

4:00 - 5:00 PM

Networking mixer

More Details

Pipeline to Public Defense (10:30-11:30 AM)

Hear from a panel of attorneys and public defense advocates about the important role that public defense providers play in our criminal legal system.
  • Welcome
  • Panel Discussion
    • Bonnie Hoffman, Senior Director of Public Defense Reform and Training, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
    • Kenitra Brown, Staff Attorney, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center
    • Calvin Duncan, Director, Light of Justice Program
    • Jiacheng Yu, Policy Attorney, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center

 

Public Defense Opportunities in Texas (12:15-1:45 PM)

Texas public defense providers and experts discuss the current state of public defense in Texas and share advice on building a successful career as an attorney dedicated to providing public defense services.
  • Welcome: Dean Jason Nance, SMU Dedman School of Law
  • The State of Public Defense in Texas: Scott Ehlers, Interim Director, Texas Indigent Defense Commission
  • Panel Discussion
    • Jim Bethke, Director, Bexar County Managed Assigned Counsel Office
    • Jason Hawkins, Federal Public Defender, Northern District of Texas
    • Adeola Ogunkeyede, Chief Public Defender, Travis County Public Defender Office (invited)
    • Matthew Wright, Presiding Judge, Rosebud Court of Record and the City of Lott Municipal Court
    • Moderator: Linda Gonzalez, Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Indigent Defense Commission

 

Answering Gideon's Call in Every Community (2:00-4:00 PM)

This roundtable discussion will focus on the unique benefits of practicing public defense in rural communities. Panelists will highlight both the challenges rural jurisdictions face in providing public defense and the potential solutions to criminal legal deserts, and attendees will learn about building a sustainable career in rural public defense.
  • Welcome: Rachel Rossi, Director, DOJ Office for Access to Justice
  • Video Presentation:  Answering the Call: Law Students Who Want to Be Public Defenders
  • Roundtable Discussion
    • André de Gruy, Mississippi Office of State Public Defender
    • Linda Gonzalez, Senior Policy Analyst, Texas Indigent Defense Commission
    • Shawn Leisinger, Associate Dean for Centers and External Programs, Washburn University School of Law
    • Cydni Sanchez, Deputy Chief, New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender
    • Moderator: Blane Skiles, Communications Director, Deason Criminal Justice Reform Center 

Special Evening Event