NAPD Leadership Institute Indianapolis 2025: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

Talent Development: Building Strong Relationships Across Generations

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Auditorium

In this session, we'll focus on how successful leaders engage with and inspire their team members.

Speakers

Stan Hickman

Training Supervisor, New York County Defender Services

Stanford Hickman is a criminal defense attorney currently based in New York City. A Howard University School of Law Graduate, he began his career as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society in Queens New York, and progressed to a senior trial attorney with New York County Defender... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
Auditorium

Plenary

1:15pm EDT

Journal Tech - Sponsor Session

Wednesday April 16, 2025 1:15pm - 1:25pm EDT

Auditorium

Speakers

Heidi Henry

Technical Sales Director, Journal Technologies

Wednesday April 16, 2025 1:15pm - 1:25pm EDT
Auditorium

1:30pm EDT

Sustaining Defenders: Leadership Strategies for a Thriving Team

Wednesday April 16, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT

Auditorium

Public defense leaders play a crucial role in shaping a work environment that supports their team’s longevity and excellence. This session will explore practical strategies to prevent burnout, foster resilience, and create a culture where defenders feel valued, supported, and committed to the work for the long haul. Participants will leave with actionable steps to strengthen their office’s well-being and sustainability, ensuring both staff retention and high-quality advocacy. NAPD Ten Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense

Speakers

Marilena David

Acting Director, State Appellate Defender Office

Marilena David is the Acting Director at the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office and concurrently serves as Deputy Director, Training Director, and Project Reentry Manager. Marilena represents individuals on appeal of their felony convictions and individuals who are being resentenced... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm EDT
Auditorium

Plenary

4:15pm EDT

Engaging the Community and Leading from all Angles

Wednesday April 16, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT

Auditorium

Speakers

James McDermott

Chief Public Defender, Far West Texas Regional Public Defender

James Gerard McDermott lives in Alpine, TX with his four dogs . He is the foundingChief Public Defender of the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender. The programcovers five counties in Big Bend country, about 20,000 square miles—almost twicethe size of Maryland—with a population... Read More →

Heather Cessna

Executive Director, Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services

Heather Cessna has been the Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services since 2019. Prior to that, Ms. Cessna was a Deputy Appellate Defender, having worked in appellate public criminal defense in Kansas since 2003. Ms. Cessna has made revamping the... Read More →

Geoff Burkhart

David Davila

DAVID DAVILA is the Chief Investigator for the Federal Public Defender, Western District of Texas. He began his career with the FPD WD of Texas in June of 1989. He has handled a wide variety of complex cases including, white collar fraud, drug, RICO, immigration, bank robbery, counterfeiting... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm EDT
Auditorium

Plenary