Skip to Main Content
Link to SCCID Home

Conference Details« Back

2025 Annual Public Defender Conference

10/06/2025
The 2025 PD Conference is LIVE IN-PERSON ONLY - NO ONLINE OPTION.
Monday | October 06, 2025 - Wednesday | October 08, 2025

Speaker Materials Pointer

Speakers' Materials (if available in advance) will be posted under Associated Resources above shortly before the time for their presentations.  Refresh this page to see recently-posted materials. 

Some speaker information and resources may also be linked in the detailed agenda below.


2024 Public Defender Conference Logo

 

 

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

 

October 6 - 8, 2025

Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort

10,000 Beach Club Drive

Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

The 2025 PD Conference is LIVE IN-PERSON ONLY

NO ONLINE OPTION.

 

The South Carolina Public Defender Investigator Association

will also be hosting its annual conference at the Hilton during the same time period.

For more information, contact SCPDIA President Joe Medlin (Joe.Medlin@yorkcountygov.com)

 

On this page:

  • Registration Form Links
  • Hotel Information and Links
  • Agenda
  • Speaker Materials

 

PD Conference Registration Forms and Instructions:

 

To register for the conference, please use the appropriate registration form linked below.

Forms are in MS Excel format.

Please read and follow the instructions below carefully to submit the registration form and payment:

 

Registration Form G - Circuit PD Office/SCCID

REGISTRATION FORM G - Use this form ONLY for Circuit Public Defender Offices and the SCCID Columbia Office.

 

Registration Form I - Everybody Else

REGISTRATION FORM I - Use this form if you are NOT employed full-time by a Circuit Public Defender Office or SCCID. 

Examples of people who SHOULD use this form:  Private Law Firms and Attorneys, SCCID Contract Attorneys, Municipal Contract Public Defenders, Other Public Sector Attorneys.

 

MAILING AND PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

 Please read and follow carefully.

If you have any problems with the registration form, contact LBrown@sccid.sc.gov 

PLEASE DOUBLE-CHECK BAR NUMBERS! 

Bar-Number typos are the No. 1 cause of CLE Credit problems.

INFORMATION MUST BE PROVIDED IN EXCEL FORMAT.  

1. Download the Appropriate Registration Form from the Links Above. 

2. Open and Complete the Registration Form in Excel and Save it to your computer. 

3. Email the completed registration form IN EXCEL FORMAT - NOT PDF to: 

Lbrown@sccid.sc.gov and Wcarter@sccid.sc.gov 

4. Print and mail a copy of the completed registration form with your payment to:

Wanda Carter c/o SCCID, PO Box 11589, Columbia, SC 29211 

Make check payable to:  SC Public Defender Association

 


 

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Hilton Logo Letter

Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort

10,000 Beach Club Drive

Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

 

RATES

Page Divider Scrollwork 01

 

Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort Hotel

Ocean View Room Rate

$169.00 per night

Page Divider 03

Royale Palms Condominiums

Ocean View Condo Rates per Night

1BR--$169.00   2BR--$246.00   3BR--$302.00

Page Divider 03

 

Room Rate Includes:  Wi-Fi

Breakfast ticket for one guest per guest room.

(Charge for breakfast for additional guests will be added to room.)

Room Rate DOES NOT include Resort Fee and Tax

 

For reservations, call 800-876-0010. 

Option 3 for Hilton Myrtle Beach

Option 4 for Royale Palms Condominiums

Identify yourself as SC Public Defender Association 2025 Attendee

SRP codes:

Hilton:  SPC

Royal Palms:  SPD   

Or, reserve online at:

Hilton Online Reservations Link

 

Page Divider Scrollwork 02


 

VENDORS:

A limited number of tables are available for vendors.

Cost:  Registered Non-Profit Organization $0.00   For-Profit Business  $200.00

Click links below for Application Form and Contact Information

PDCon25 Vendor Application - MSWord Format.

PDCon25 Vendor Application - Fillable PDF

 


 

AGENDA: Tentative

 

MONDAY, October 6

 

Time

Title / Speaker

MCLE

9:00 – 9:15

Introductory Remarks

Melissa Inzerillo, Deputy Public Defender, Sixteenth Circuit Public Defender Office

President, Public Defender Association

 

9:15 – 10:15

Forensic-based restorations and prescreening

Derek Bush, Assistant Public Defender, Second Judicial Circuit

Rochelle R. Caton, Director of Patient Advocacy, S.C. Office of Mental Health

Kelly Gothard, Ph.D., SCOMH

1.0

10:15 - 10:30

Break

0

10:30 – 11:30

Case Law Update

             TBD, SC Appellate Defense

1.0

11:30 – 12:30

Ethics of Facebook and Social Media

Dr. Gregory Adams, USC School of Law

1.0

Ethics

12:30 – 1:45

Lunch (On Your Own)

0

1:45 – 2:45

Ethics Update 2024

William Blitch, Office of Disciplinary Counsel

A discussion of where complaints come from, how they are handled and some relevant rules for practitioners to keep in mind.

1.0

Ethics

2:45 – 3:00

Break

0

3:00 – 4:00

Legislative Update

1.0 

4:00 – 5:00

Attorney-led Voir Dire

Boyd Young, Director, SCCID Capital Trial Division

Robert Banks, Deputy Chief Attorney, SCCID Capital Trial Division

1.0

 

CLE Total for Day 1

6

Conference Reception-Poolside 6-8 pm

TUESDAY, October 7

 

Time

Title / Speaker

MCLE

9:00 – 10:00

Sex offender registry: getting on it and getting off it

Jim Huff, Huff Law Firm

1.0

10:00 – 11:00

Personal view of substance abuse and sobriety

Jean Popowski, Deputy Public Defender, Lexington Public Defender Office

1.0

SA/MH

11:00 – 11:30

Awards

0

 

 

 

11:30 – 12:45

BREAKOUT SESSION ONE – CHOOSE ONE

1..25

A.

Juvenile Defense Standards

Mike Mathison, Children’s Law Center; Steve McKenzie

 

B.

I got a death penalty case! Now what?

               Boyd Young, Director, SCCID Capital Trial Division

 

C.

Case investigation

Chelsea McNeill, Eighth Circuit Public Defender/Tristan Shaffer

 

12:45 – 2:00

BREAKOUT SESSION TWO – CHOOSE ONE

1.25

A.

Juvenile Defense Standards

Mike Mathison, Children’s Law Center; Steve McKenzie

 

B.

Starting a life history investigation for clients charged with serious crimes

               Emily Kuchar, SCCID Capital Division

 

C.

TBD

Phil Smith, Senior Trial Attorney, York, SC

 

 

CLE Total for Day 2

4.5

WEDNESDAY, October 8

 

Time

Title / Speaker

CLE

9:00 – 10:00

Meth and moms: defending pregnant women who test positive for drugs

             Karen Thompson, Wendy Bach, Pregnancy Justice

1.0

 

10:00 – 10:15

Break

0

10:15– 11:30

Understanding Probation and Parole

Matthew Buchanan, Esq., SC Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services

1.25

11:30 – 12:45

Understanding Prison Sentences in South Carolina

Christina C. Bigelow, Deputy General Counsel, SC Department of Corrections

An overview of the different types of sentences an offender can receive in South Carolina and what those sentences actually look like.

1.25

 

 

 

 

CLE Total for Day 3

3.5

 

 


 

See the Complete Agenda Below

PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSIONClick the button below to view/download/print the Agenda.

Agenda Download Button 

 


 

Speakers' Materials will be posted under +Associated Resources above shortly before the time for their presentations.  Refresh this page to see recently-posted materials.

Conference Evaluation Survey

PDA Officer Election Ballot