The 2026 PD Conference is LIVE IN-PERSON ONLY - NO ONLINE OPTION.
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.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
September 28 - 30, 2026
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
10,000 Beach Club Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
The 2026 PD Conference is LIVE IN-PERSON ONLY
NO ONLINE OPTION.
___________________________________________________________________
On This Page:
- PD Conference Registration Form Links
- SCPDIA Conference Info and Registration Links
- Vendor Registration Form Links
- Sponsor Application
- Hotel Information and Links
- PDCon Agenda
- PDCon Speaker Materials
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The SCPDIA Annual Conference
The SC Public Defender Investigator Association will also be hosting its annual conference at the Hilton during the same time period as the PD Conference.
SCPDIA Conference Information Flyer
SCPDIA Conference Agenda
SCPDIA Conference Registration Form
For more information, go to scpdia.com or contact SCPDIA President Joe Medlin (Joe.Medlin@yorkcountysc.gov)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PD Conference Registration Forms and Instructions:
Payment must be received by September 11 to avoid late fees.
CLICK HERE to see if your bank or credit union offers Zelle.
To register for the conference, please use the appropriate registration form linked below.
Forms are in MS Excel format. (When you click the link, you will normally get a download dialog box.
If the form opens in Excel online instead, download a copy by doing the following: click "File" > Create a Copy > Download a Copy.)
Please follow the checklist linked below to make sure that you complete the form and submit payment properly:
CLICK HERE to Download the PD Conference Registration Checklist
CLICK HERE to download Registration Form for Circuit PD Office/SCCID only
Use this form ONLY for Circuit Public Defender Offices and the SCCID Columbia Office.
CLICK HERE to download Registration Form for Everybody Else
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, Circuit Contract Public Defenders not registered through the PD office, Other Public Sector Attorneys.
(LOCAL/CIRCUIT CONTRACT PUBLIC DEFENDERS: If you have a contract with the circuit public defender, register as "Public_Defender," NOT as "IDCA_Contract_Attorney.")
PD Conference Registration Checklist
- Download registration form and save to computer. (Forms are in MS Excel format. When you click the link, you will normally get a download dialog box. If the form opens in Excel online instead, download a copy by doing the following: click "File" > Create a Copy > Download a Copy.)
- Open and Complete the Registration Form in Excel.
- Fill out Top Block Group/Registrant information completely.
- Fill out all attendee information completely.
- Use proper capitalization. DO NOT use all CAPS or all lowercase.
- Put first and last names in correct columns.
- Put only preferred first name or nickname in Name Tag slot – NO LAST NAME.
- Double-check all information, Bar Numbers, and email addresses for typos.
- Triple-check all information for typos.
- Email form in EXCEL FORMAT (NOT PDF) to LBrown@sccid.sc.gov AND WCarter@sccid.sc.gov
- If paying by Zelle, use Zelle Tag: SC-PDA
- If paying by check, make check payable to: SC Public Defender Association. Print and mail copy of registration form along with check to Wanda Carter c/o SCCID, PO Box 11589, Columbia, SC 29211.
- For questions about or problems with the registration form, contact Lawrence Brown at LBrown@sccid.sc.gov or 803-270-7657.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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
PDCon26 Vendor Application - MSWord Format.
PDCon26 Vendor Application - Fillable PDF
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
SCPDA is offering the opportunity to sponsor certain convention activities and aspects.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please see complete details and rates on the Sponsorship Options Form linked below:
PDCon26 Sponsorship Options Form
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
HOTEL INFORMATION:
You may check the link below or contact the hotel directly in case of cancellations, but the PDCon block at the Hilton shows SOLD OUT
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
10,000 Beach Club Drive
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
RATES
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort Hotel
Ocean View Room Rate
$174.00 per night
Royale Palms Condominiums
Ocean View Condo Rates per Night
1BR--$174.00 2BR--$252.00 3BR--$309.00
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
|
|
AGENDA:
CLE: 14 Hours MCLE Credit including 2 hours LEPR(Ethics) and 1 hour SA/MH.
CLE Course Number: 962072
See the Complete Agenda Below
PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION - Click the button below to view/download/print the Agenda.
|
MONDAY, September 28
|
|
|
Time
|
Title / Speaker
|
MCLE
|
|
9:00 – 9:15
|
Introductory Remarks
Melissa Inzerillo, Deputy Public Defender, Sixteenth Circuit Public Defender Office
President, Public Defender Association
|
0
|
|
9:15 – 10:15
|
Practical Thoughts for Preserving the Record for Appeal
Kat Hudgins, SCCID (Appellate Defense)
|
1.0
|
|
10:15 - 10:30
|
Break
|
0
|
|
10:30 – 11:30
|
The Hardest Case I Ever Tried Was My Own: A Lawyer’s Journey to Sobriety and the People Who Helped Me Win
Miles Lavan Green, Jr., Assistant Public Defender, Sumter Public Defender Office
|
1.0
SA/MH
|
|
11:30 – 12:30
|
Ethical Guardrails for AI Use in Trial Preparation
Daniel King, Assistant Public Defender, Anderson County
|
1.0
Ethics
|
|
12:30 – 1:45
|
Lunch (On Your Own)
|
0
|
|
1:45 – 2:45
|
Ethics Update 2026
William Blitch, Office of Disciplinary Counsel
|
1.0
Ethics
|
|
2:45 – 3:00
|
Break
|
0
|
|
3:00 – 4:00
|
Dudek’s Case Law Update
Jessica Saxon, Appellate Defense
Joanna Delany, Appellate Defense
|
1.0
|
|
4:00 – 5:15
|
Judicial Panel
Hon. William Wheeler, Third Circuit
Hon. R. Ferrell Cothran, Jr., Third Circuit
Hon. Courtney Clyburn Pope, Second Circuit
Hon. Walton McLeod, Eleventh Circuit
|
1..25
|
|
|
CLE Total for Day 1
|
6.25
|
|
TUESDAY, September 29
|
|
|
Time
|
Title / Speaker
|
MCLE
|
|
8:45 – 9:45
|
Artificial Intelligence and Flock Cameras
Elizabeth Vasquez, Keynote Speaker
|
1.0
|
|
9:45 – 10:45
|
You’re only right one day in your life
Phil Smith, Deputy Public Defender and Senior Trial Attorney, Sixteenth Circuit Public Defender, York, SC
This presentation focuses on the true power of our law being its ability to change. The law has a life and therefore it changes and grows. As lawyers, we should use legal history as a foundation but also realize that change is necessary. The presentation illustrates that to be most effective advocates, we must incorporate this understanding not only into our study of code sections and case law, but also into our trial practice techniques. |
1.0
|
|
10:45 – 11:45
|
Legislative Update
Sen. Deon Tedder
Sen. Brian Adams
Sen. Robby Robbins
|
1.0
|
|
11:45 -12:00
|
Awards/Break
|
0
|
|
12:00 – 1:15
|
BREAKOUT SESSION ONE – CHOOSE ONE
|
1..25
|
|
A.
|
Proper Use of the Forensic Evaluation System in Juvenile Cases
Rochelle R. Caton, Director of Patient Advocacy, S.C. Office of Mental Health
Kelly Gothard, Ph.D., Forensic Services for the S.C. Office of Mental Health
|
|
|
B.
|
Understanding Prison Sentences
Christina C. Bigelow, Deputy General Counsel, SC Department of Corrections
|
|
|
C.
|
Forensic DNA Technologies through Time: Past, Present and Future
Rachel W. Grant, M.S.
Demi Garvin
|
|
|
1:15 – 2:30
|
BREAKOUT SESSION TWO – CHOOSE ONE
|
1.25
|
|
A.
|
Constitutional Standards and Legal Limits for Judicial Commitments
Rochelle R. Caton, Director of Patient Advocacy, S.C. Office of Mental Health
Kelly Gothard, Ph.D., Forensic Services for the S.C. Office of Mental Health
|
|
|
B.
|
Understanding Probation and Parole
Matthew Buchanan, Esq., SC Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services
|
|
|
C.
|
Forensic DNA Technologies through Time: Past, Present and Future
Rachel W. Grant, M.S.
Demi Garvin
|
|
|
|
CLE Total for Day 2
|
5.5
|
|
WEDNESDAY, September 30
|
|
|
Time
|
Title / Speaker
|
CLE
|
|
8:45 – 9:45
|
The Argument for Credit for Time Served and Updates on the Bond Statute
BJ Barrowclough, Circuit Public Defender, Sixteenth Circuit
Pierce Wehman, Circuit Public Defender, First Circuit
Fielding Pringle, Circuit Public Defender, Fifth Circuit
|
1.0
|
|
9:45– 11:00
|
From Personal Experience to Purpose
Taneal Behrens, Sentencing Specialist, Charleston County Public Defender Office
|
1.25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLE Total for Day 3
|
2.25
|
|
| 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
|