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NACDL’s 19th Annual Forensics Seminar, “Making Sense of Science: Forensic Science, Technology & the Law” will be held at the Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, April 23-25, 2026.
BIG NAMES. BIG SCIENCE. NEW TECHNOLOGY. A BIG-TIME CLE EXPERIENCE!
Don’t miss this great opportunity for a no-nonsense, national networking CLE featuring the leading faculty in their respective fields.
WATCH A PREVIEW of what you can expect at this 2026 Seminar. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwlSh-caP78
Why You Should Attend This Cutting-Edge Legal Seminar on Forensic Science & Technology
In an era where science and technology increasingly shape the courtroom, criminal law practitioners must stay ahead of the curve. This two-day seminar is an unmissable opportunity for criminal defense attorneys, forensic experts, and investigators to gain modern scientific and technical insight and practical trial skills to take on the complex intersection of science, technology, and trial advocacy.
What Makes This Seminar Stand Out?
- Dual Track Format: Forensic Science & AI/Technology - Whether you're dissecting DNA evidence or confronting AI-generated discovery, the dual-track structure ensures you receive in-depth, expert-led insights tailored to your interests and practice needs.
- Learn From Nationally Recognized Experts - The seminar features powerhouse presenters from across the country, including seasoned trial attorneys, forensic scientists, and academics—bringing real-world experience from high-profile cases like the Karen Read trial to your learning experience.
- Practical Strategies You Can Apply in the Courtroom - From cross-examining digital forensics experts to challenging the validity of toxicology reports or facial recognition technology, every session is designed to deliver tangible, courtroom-tested strategies.
- National Networking Opportunities - A complimentary welcome reception, and dozens of vendors and experts will offer a rich networking atmosphere with fellow professionals, faculty, and exhibitors in
Why You Should Attend
• Stay ahead of the latest forensic, AI, and technology developments
• Sharpen your courtroom skills with tactical guidance
• Build confidence in handling and dealing with complex scientific evidence
• Network with national leaders and peers in criminal defense
Whether you’re new to defending forensic-heavy cases or a veteran litigator seeking to refine your edge, this seminar equips you with the scientific knowledge, technological insight, and advocacy tools to succeed in today’s courtroom.
Secure your spot and elevate your trial practice—this is where science and technology meets strategy!
Agenda
The program agenda and faculty are subject to change.
| Thursday, April 23, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 3:30 pm | Early Registration & Exhibit Hall Open |
| 4:00-6:00 pm |
Meet the Experts Roundtables – Bring your case, or your questions for casual discussion with experts Roundtable 1: Garrett Discovery – Discuss E-Discovery and Digital Forensics Investigations: Computer, Vehicle, and Mobile RSVP Roundtable 2: Metadata Forensics – Discuss Data Recovery, and Digital Forensics Investigations: Computer, Vehicle, and Mobile Roundtable 3: RizeUp Media – Discuss Law Firm Marketing: Web Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Social Media Marketing Roundtable 4: Second Look Investigations and Forensic Consulting – Discuss Forensic Investigation, Child Interviews and Investigations, Police Procedures and Crime Scene Analysis RSVP |
| Friday, April 24, 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast | |
| 8:00 am | Welcoming Remarks and Morning Announcements – NACDL President Andrew Birrell (Minneapolis, MN) & Program Co-Chairs Jonathan Brayman (Chicago, IL), Angelica Cogliano (Austin, TX), Jacqueline Goodman (Fullerton, CA), and Tamar Lerer (Newark, NJ) | |
| 8:15 am | OPENING PLENARY: Trying a Forensic Heavy Case - Conveying Your Theme & Theory from Start to Finish – Joseph Cavise (Chicago, IL) & Emily Prokesch (Atlanta, GA) | |
| FORENSIC SCIENCE TRACK | AI & TECHNOLOGY TRACK | |
| 9:15 am | Lessons from the Karen Read Trial – Making Forensics Understandable for a Jury – Alan Jackson (Los Angeles, CA) | Leveraging Technology in Criminal Defense: Complex Discovery and Beyond – John Ellis (San Diego, CA) |
| 10:15 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break | |
| 10:35 am | Blood and Ethanol: Demystifying Gas Chromatography – Patrick Barone (Birmingham, MI) |
The Ethics of AI: Navigating AI-Generated Evidence in the Courtroom – Brian Chase (Tucson, AZ) |
| 11:35 am | From Crime Scene Investigation to "Not Guilty!" – Jay Clark (Cincinnati, OH) and William 'Bill' Gallagher (Cincinnati, OH) | AI on the Witness Stand: Trust, Truth, and Hallucinations in Criminal Defense – Patrick Barone (Birmingham, MI) |
| 12:35 pm | Lunch break on your own | |
| 2:05 pm | Involuntary Intoxication: The Medicine Made Me Do It. – Amanda R. Clark Palmer (Atlanta, GA) | Next-Gen Geolocation: Interpreting Cell Phone Location Data – Tom Beiser (Flemington, NJ) |
| 3:05 pm | From Chemistry to Courtroom: The Role of Toxicology in Alcohol and Drug Cases – Amanda M. Kogelschatz, M.S., D-ABFT-FT (New York, NY) | Unmasking Facial Recognition Technology – Michael King (Melbourne, FL) and Tamar Lerer (Newark, NJ) |
| 4:05 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break | |
| 4:25 pm | Understanding the Forensic Pathologist: Maximizing Expert Witness Testimony and Recognizing Its Limitations– Dr. William Sago, MD (Reno, NV) | Driving the Evidence: The Modern Vehicle as a Surveillance Platform – Patrick Eller (Richmond, VA) |
| 5:25 pm | How Biomechanics and Firearm Experts Can Collaborate on Forensic Investigations – Christopher Eckersley, Ph.D., P.E. (Charlotte, NC) & Tony Dill, COL (Ret.) (Peachtree Corners, GA) | Man vs. Machine: Taking on Forensics Experts in the AI Era – Michael Waddington (Weston, FL) |
| 6:25 pm | Adjourn for the Day | |
| 7:00 - 9:00 pm |
Opening Reception |
| Saturday, April 25, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 7:15 am | Registration, Exhibits & Continental Breakfast |
| 8:15 am | Morning Announcements – Program Co-Chairs |
| 8:25 am | Shooting Reconstruction: Aiming for Justice – Dr. Amy Santoro (Kansas City, MO) |
| 9:25 am | Credibly Unreliable: Refuting Delayed Sexual Assault Claims with Memory Science – Dr. Trent Terrell (Belton, TX) |
| 10:25 am | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 10:45 am | Cross Examination of the Forensic Interviewer in a Child Sex Case – Paul Cramm (Overland Park, Kansas) |
| 11:45 am | A Practical Guide to As-Applied Challenges to the Reliability of Ballistics "Matches" – Elayna Thompson (Newark, NJ) |
| 12:45 pm | Lunch break on your own |
| 2:15 pm | Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science and How it Effects the Reliability of Ballistics Testimony – Jeff Kukucka (Baltimore, MD) |
| 3:15 pm | K-9 Searches – Jerry Potter (Two Rivers, WI) |
| 4:15 pm | Exhibits, Networking & Refreshment Break |
| 4:30 pm | A Bone to Pick: The Pros and Pitfalls of Forensic Anthropology –Kimberlee Moran (Camden, NJ) |
| 5:30 pm | Seminar Adjourns until 2027! |
Faculty
- Patrick T. Barone (Birmingham, MI) *NACDL MEMBER
- Tom Beiser (Flemington, NJ) *NACDL MEMBER
- Joseph Cavise (Chicago, IL) *NACDL MEMBER
- Brian Chase (Tucson, AZ)
- Jay Clark (Cincinnati, OH) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Amanda R. Clark Palmer (Atlanta, GA) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Paul Cramm (Overland Park, Kansas) *NACDL MEMBER
- Tony Dill, COL (Ret.) (Peachtree Corners, GA)
- Christopher Eckersley, Ph.D., P.E. (Charlotte, NC)
- Patrick Eller (Richmond, VA)
- John Ellis (San Diego, CA) *NACDL MEMBER
- William 'Bill' Gallagher (Cincinnati, OH) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
- Alan Jackson (Los Angeles, CA)
- Jeff Kukucka (Baltimore, MD)
- Michael King (Melbourne, FL)
- Amanda M. Kogelschatz, M.S., D-ABFT-FT (New York, NY)
- Tamar Lerer (Newark, NJ) *NACDL MEMBER
- Kimberlee Moran (Camden, NJ)
- Jerry Potter (Two Rivers, WI)
- Emily Prokesch (Atlanta, GA)
- Dr. William Sago, MD (Reno, NV)
- Dr. Amy Santoro, PhD, MFS, CBPA, CSCSA, CFPh, ABC-FKE (Kansas City, MO)
- Dr. Trent Terrell (Belton, TX)
- Elayna Thompson (Newark, NJ)
- Michael Waddington (Weston, FL) *NACDL LIFE MEMBER
CLE Information
NACDL is an accredited provider of CLE in all states requiring mandatory CLE Training. NACDL will apply for at least 15.00 credit hours in every state requiring pre-approval. Specialty credits will be applied for (where applicable). Approved hours for each state will be identified at the seminar. Some states, IL, GA, NE, NM, PA, SC, TN and UT require additional fees by the attendee in order to receive credit.
Hotel
Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
All reservations within NACDL room block must be booked using the online reservations link below. Reservations over the phone are not available.
Online Reservations: https://book.passkey.com/e/51050099
Group rate: average nightly rate - $205 ($99 + tax Thursday / $329 + tax Friday / $189 + tax Saturday) - expires April 1, 2026
Rooms/discounted group rates are not guaranteed once the block has been filled.
Sponsorship and Exhibits
Disclaimer: NACDL does not necessarily endorse or guarantee the quality, applicability, or discounts of the products and/or services of its exhibitors. Users of these products and/or services do so at their sole discretion and NACDL assumes no responsibility for them.
For information on exhibiting or sponsorships, please contact NACDL's Sales and Marketing Manager Jason Petty at jpetty@nacdl.org or call (202) 465-7637.
NACDL would like to thank the following sponsors, exhibitors, and affinity partners for their support and contributions:
PLATINUM Sponsor:
still available...
GOLD Sponsor:
still available...
SILVER Sponsors:
BRONZE Sponsor:
still available...
Friday Night Welcoming Reception:
Wi-Fi Sponsor:
still available...
Seminar Materials Sponsor:
still available...
Lanyards Sponsor:
Tote Bag Sponsor:
Exhibitors:
Above the Bar Marketing
ActiveEducationForensics
Aperture LLC
ArcherHall
British Custom Tailors
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ)
CaseCracker
Engineering Systems Inc. (ESi)
Envista Forensics
Expo Enterprise, Inc.
Forensic Analytical Crime Lab
Garrett Discovery, Inc.
Godoy Medical Forensics
Integrity Legal Nurse Consulting PDX
Intrepid Forensic Healthcare Consulting
LifeSafer
Metadata Forensics, LLC
NiCE Public Safety & Justice
No One Forensics
Paradise Creek Recovery Center
RizeUp Media
Second Look Training and Forensic Consulting LLC
Sentencing Guidelines Calculator
Sorenson Forensics
Stutchman Forensic Lab LLC
TrialKit
Scholarships
NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Based on need, scholarships are available to NACDL members for up to 50% off the standard seminar fee of $459. Approved recipients are responsible for the remainder of the tuition fee, which is $230 (all other expenses are not included). The reduced scholarship fee includes seminar tuition, admission to all evening social events, and downloadable seminar materials. Travel, hotel, and other costs are not included.
To Apply: Prepare and e-mail a letter of no more than two pages explaining the reason why you believe you should receive the grant to: NACDL Senior Director of Events Akvile Athanason, at aathanason@nacdl.org.
All applications must be submitted before registering for the seminar and received by March 23, 2026.
NACDL MEMBERSHIP AND RESERVATION AT THE HOST HOTEL ARE REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS
Pricing
Register Online Register by PDF
Members of NACDL enjoy exclusive registration rates for our seminars along with all the benefits from joining.
| Registration Fees | |
|---|---|
| NACDL MEMBERS: Regular, Life, President's Club and Sustaining Members | $459 |
| NACDL MEMBERS: Public Defender, Associate, Investigator, Professor, New Lawyer, International and Military | $339 |
| Non-Members: Private Practitioners (includes 1-year membership) | $788 |
| Non-Member Public Defenders | $379 |
| Regional Affiliate Lawyer Discount: All Nevada and California Lawyers (Residents Only) | $369 |
| Groups of 4 or more PDs (must register at the same time; 1 payment; no changes or cancellations allowed). To register a group, please visit: http://www.nacdl.org/PDGroups | $309 |
| Non-Attendee Materials / Recordings | |
|---|---|
| Audio Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $225 |
| Video Recording of Seminar (pre-sale) | $299 |
CANCELLATIONS: There is a $75 cancellation fee. Cancellations must be received in writing via e-mail to cancel@nacdl.org by 5:30 pm E.T. Friday, April 17, 2026, to receive a refund, less the cancellation fee. No refunds can be issued after the cancellation deadline.
Code of Conduct
NACDL endeavors to foster a working, learning, and social environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and insult. To that end, NACDL has adopted a Code of Conduct for Affiliated Persons that applies to all attendees and participants of any kind at all NACDL sponsored events.
Learn More
Facts Only
The NACDL’s 19th Annual Forensics Seminar is scheduled for April 23-25, 2026, at the Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.
The seminar features a dual-track format: Forensic Science and AI/Technology.
Notable faculty includes trial attorneys, forensic scientists, and academics from across the U.S.
Sessions cover topics such as DNA evidence, AI-generated discovery, digital forensics, and toxicology.
The event offers CLE credits, with NACDL applying for at least 15.00 credit hours in states requiring pre-approval.
Registration fees vary: NACDL members pay $459, public defenders and affiliates pay $339, and non-members pay $788 (including a one-year membership).
Needs-based scholarships are available for NACDL members, reducing the fee to $230.
The agenda includes roundtable discussions, plenary sessions, and specialized tracks on forensic science and technology.
The seminar concludes with a reception and networking opportunities.
The Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is the host venue, with group rates available until April 1, 2026.
Exhibitors and sponsors include forensic consulting firms, legal tech companies, and marketing agencies.
The NACDL has a Code of Conduct to ensure a harassment-free environment for all attendees.
Executive Summary
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is hosting its 19th Annual Forensics Seminar, "Making Sense of Science: Forensic Science, Technology & the Law," from April 23-25, 2026, at the Sahara Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. The event features a dual-track format covering forensic science and AI/technology, with sessions led by nationally recognized experts, including trial attorneys, forensic scientists, and academics. Attendees can expect practical strategies for handling complex scientific evidence in court, networking opportunities, and discussions on high-profile cases like the Karen Read trial. The seminar offers CLE credits, with pricing varying for members, non-members, and public defenders. Scholarships are available for NACDL members based on financial need. The agenda includes roundtable discussions, plenary sessions, and specialized tracks on topics such as DNA evidence, AI-generated discovery, and digital forensics. The event concludes with a reception and opportunities for exhibitors and sponsors to engage with participants.
The seminar aims to equip criminal defense attorneys, forensic experts, and investigators with modern scientific and technical insights, as well as trial advocacy skills. The faculty includes prominent figures in the field, and the event is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among professionals. The NACDL emphasizes a commitment to a harassment-free environment and provides resources for attendees to navigate the intersection of science, technology, and the law.
Full Take
The NACDL’s 19th Annual Forensics Seminar presents a robust opportunity for legal professionals to engage with the evolving intersection of forensic science, technology, and the law. The strongest version of this narrative highlights the seminar’s dual-track structure, which allows attendees to tailor their learning to either forensic science or AI/technology, ensuring relevance to their practice. The inclusion of high-profile faculty and practical, courtroom-tested strategies underscores the seminar’s value in equipping attorneys with the tools to navigate complex scientific evidence. The event’s emphasis on networking and collaboration further enhances its appeal, fostering a community of professionals committed to advancing their expertise.
However, the narrative also reflects broader patterns in legal education and professional development. The focus on "big names" and "big science" could inadvertently reinforce a hierarchy of expertise, where certain voices and methodologies are privileged over others. This raises questions about whose knowledge is deemed authoritative and how emerging or alternative perspectives might be marginalized. Additionally, the seminar’s reliance on sponsorships and exhibitors, while necessary for funding, introduces potential conflicts of interest, particularly if vendors promote products or services that may not align with the best interests of defendants or the integrity of forensic science.
The paradigm driving this narrative is one of professionalization and specialization within criminal defense, where staying abreast of technological and scientific advancements is framed as essential for effective advocacy. This reflects a broader trend in the legal field, where the rapid pace of technological change demands continuous education. Yet, it also assumes that access to such resources is equitable, which may not be the case for smaller firms or public defenders with limited budgets. The scholarship program attempts to address this, but the requirement of NACDL membership and hotel reservations could still pose barriers.
Implications for human agency and dignity are significant. On one hand, the seminar empowers attorneys to challenge flawed forensic evidence, potentially preventing wrongful convictions. On the other, the commercialization of legal education—through sponsorships and high registration fees—could exacerbate disparities in access to justice. Who benefits most from this event? Likely well-resourced attorneys and firms, while those in underfunded public defense systems may struggle to participate.
Bridge questions to consider: How might the seminar’s focus on high-profile cases and "big science" overshadow the everyday challenges faced by public defenders? What mechanisms could ensure that the insights shared at this event are accessible to all practitioners, regardless of their financial means? How might the legal community balance the need for specialized knowledge with the risk of creating an elite class of "forensic-savvy" attorneys?
Counterstrike scan: If this narrative were part of a coordinated influence campaign, it might emphasize the urgency of adopting new technologies and forensic methods, framing them as indispensable for effective defense. The playbook would likely highlight high-profile cases and expert endorsements to create a sense of necessity, while downplaying the costs and accessibility issues. However, the actual content of the seminar appears to be a genuine effort to educate and empower legal professionals, with no overt signs of manipulation or bad faith. The inclusion of scholarships and a diverse faculty suggests a commitment to inclusivity, though structural barriers remain.
Patterns detected: none
Sentinel — Human
This appears to be a human-written promotional announcement for a legal seminar, with no significant signs of AI generation.