TRAININGThe Public Defender Training Division provides state, county, municipal, and youth court defenders continuing legal education programs, case law and legislative updates, legal research, and technical assistance in complex cases. The Division also oversees the collection and reporting of data for the Legislature and Public Defender Taskforce. TRAINING EVENTS
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
![]() 2026 Fall Family and Youth Defender Training Registration and Hotel Link
REGISTRATIONFamily Defense Certification Training September 16-17, 2026 September 17-18, 2026 Margaritaville Resort and Family Entertainment Center
Biloxi, Mississippi Conference Rate: $110 per night
👉 BOOK YOUR HOTEL HERE:
Deadline to receive the group rate is August 21, 2026
Group Code: 2260 Online Link: Hotel Reservation Link
2026 Spring OSDP & MPDA Public Defender Conference will be held April 22-24, 2026. The location is Centennial Plaza Resort located in Gulfport, MS.
Please invite your investigators and mitigation specialists. We will have separate break-out sessions for each group.
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2026 Spring OSPD & MPDA has been closed. Onsite registration will be at the check in table. AGENDA CLE Form Travel Voucher Please invite your investigators and mitigation specialists. We will have separate break-out sessions for each group.
2026 Family Defense Certification Training
Cadence Bank Arena – Tupelo
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED!
2026 Spring Family Defense Certification Training - AGENDA
MATERIAL:
AGENDA
CLE Form for Family Defense
Travel Voucher
2026 Deep South Capital Defense Conference
March 4 - 6, 2026 Hollywood Casino - Gulf Coast Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
Materials: 2026 Deep South Capital Defender Conference
AGENDA
CLE Form
Reimbursement Instruction
Travel Voucher
 PAST TRAINING EVENTS
2025 Fall OSPD & MPDA Public Defender Conference
Riley Center – Meridian, MS
October 22-24, 2025
Conference MATERIALS: 2025 Fall OSPD & MPDA Agenda
CLE - Form
Travel Expenses Form & Reimbursement Instructions
Travel- Voucher
Wednesday, October 22 2025
PD's and Police Misconduct: Identifying and Preserving Client's Civil Rights Claims - Michelle Dahl
Fall 2025 Appellate Law Update - Justin Cook
Evidence Refresher for Busy Defenders - Franklin Rosenblatt
Thursday, October 23 2025
Judicial Commitments in Circuit Court: Balancing Rights, Responsibilities, and Reform - Tameika Bennett
ETHICS: Ethical Use of Generative AI for Criminal Defense Lawyers - Ben Cooper
The Holistic Defense Project (Panel) - Hinds County PD Office
Vertical Representation - Pam Metzger
Digital Forensic Evidence: An Overview of the Available Technologies and How They Appear in Cases - Alice Fontier
-Parole Eligibility, ERS, Trusty Time, and MET - Jake Howard
Additional information on Parole Eligibility - Jake Howard
Friday, October 24 2025
Youth Court Forms - Jennifer Morgan
CPS Motion For Disclosure
CPS Order Permitting Disclosure of Records
Motion for Subpoena for Youth Court Records-Current Child
Subpoena Deuces Tecum
YC Order Perm Limited Disclosure
Utilizing the Science of False Confessions to Litigate Confession Cases - Lauren Gottesman (contact Berenda Pendleton)
Civil Rights and Homelessness - Joshua Toms
2025 Fall Family Defense Certification Training
September 17-18, 2025
Golden Nugget Casino - Biloxi, MS
Conference MATERIALS:
2025 Fall Youth Defense Certification Training
September 18-19, 2025
Golden Nugget Casino - Biloxi, MS
Conference MATERIALS:
AGENDA, Thursday, September 18, 2025
Youth Court Reform in Mississippi: Progress and Possibilities - Vicki Lowery and Wendy Shelton
Happiness is a Warm Gun (case) - Jack Harrison and Lakita Leonard Friday, September 19, 2025
The Silent Consequence - Brandon H Riches
Confined Without Cause - Kristina Kersey
Barrister's Battle - Brenda Locke
Gault Center Resource Library Page
Can't find what you're looking for? Materials for past conferences are available on request - just email Berenda Pendleton.
|
