Informal Pre-Retreat Get Together at Kokomo's Lounge in The Mirage

For many of you arriving on Thursday or earlier, we will be getting a head start on the Retreat activities.  Thursday evening we will informally meet at about 8pm at Kokomo's Lounge, close to the front doors in The Mirage Hotel.  The Mirage is an easy walk across "The Strip" from the Imperial Palace.  This is very informal, and we have no reservation, let's just show up and find a table or 2, or 3 (ask the hosts where the lawyers are sitting). 

Map of The Mirage (PDF)  |  Mirage Website

Las Vegas Strip Map (PDF)
 

Retreat Sign-In and pick up materials in the Plaza Room at the Imperial Palace

We will have the Retreat Sign-In in the Plaza Room on the 5th floor (near the dining areas) inside the Imperial Palace.  You can pick up the Retreat handout materials, your name badge, nifty certificate of attendance, Improv and Monorail tickets (if applicable), and details on the Retreat.  This Sign-In will also be available throughout the weekend, before each day's program.

Imperial Palace Map (PDF)  |  Imperial Palace Website

Clark County Public Defender's Office Field Trip

Back after popular demand, you are invited to the Clark County Public Defender's Office in Las Vegas from 2:30pm to 4pm on Friday afternoon (before the Retreat Welcome Party).  Join us for a free tour, technology presentation, and discussion at this 170 person, high paced, multi-track, team based public defender's office.  The Clark County Public Defender's Office is a technology innovator within Clark County, often the source agency within the county for statistical information regarding dispositional and sentencing data.  A presentation on how technology is leveraged to provide valuable and personalized statistical data, delivered real-time to the desktop of each individual user and functional group, to make better decisions, make the case for gaining more resources, and document client services will be provided.  Sponsored by New Dawn Technologies, Inc. and their JustWare | Defender.  Transportation between the Imperial Palace and the public defender's office will be provided.

Space is limited, so email us your name and agency information to reserve your spot and register for an iPod giveaway for this exciting presentation to: marketing@newdawntech.com or go to http://www.justware.com/pdr.htm to register online.

Or call / email me, Dave Rendahl (the Public Defender Retreat Organizer) at 1-559-733-6693 or Dave@PublicDefenderRetreat.com, and I will make sure you will be part of this informational tour.

Retreat Welcome Party in the Auto Museum at the Imperial Palace

We will again have our Friday Welcome Party in the Grand Salon inside the Auto Museum on the 5th level of the self-parking facility at the back of the Imperial Palace.  Admission will be free for Retreat attendees and their guests (one member of your party will need to show a Retreat name badge to enter).  Food and hors d'oeuvres will be provided, as well as some drinks, and a cash bar will also be available.  You are also welcome to view the classic cars on display too.

Imperial Palace Map (PDF)  |  Imperial Palace Website
 

The Improv Comedy Show at Harrah's

We have now made a tradition of attending a Comedy show on the Friday night of the Retreat, after our Welcome Party.  Based on its reputation as one of the best comedy shows in Vegas, a large group of attendees are again planning on doing the Improv Comedy Show at Harrah's Hotel, located right next door to the Imperial Palace, and across from the Mirage.  The show usually sells out on Friday nights.  Discount Improv tickets can be purchased with your Retreat Registration for $28 per person (includes tax and fees).  The show starts at 10:30pm but be there by 10pm to get your seats.  If you have already ordered your ticket(s) with your Retreat Registration, you can pick them up with your Retreat materials at the Retreat Sign-In on Friday afternoon, or at the Welcome Party Friday evening.

The last few years our Retreat attendees (due to getting the tickets early) got fabulous seats.  Retreat attendees had all the VIP seats ringing the stage, and most of the closest tables to the stage.  The fear that a group of criminal defense types may become fodder for the comedians never materialized, but maybe this year?

Harrah's Map (PDF)  |  Harrah's Website

Las Vegas Strip Map (PDF)

MCLE/CLE* Speakers in the Royal Hall at Imperial Palace

8:30am to 8:45am - Dave Rendahl, Deputy Public Defender & Retreat Organizer, Visalia, California - Retreat Sign-In, welcome, announcements, coffee, donuts, and pick up materials in the Royal Hall on the 3rd floor (use the long escalators near the hotel registration desk) at the Imperial Palace.

8:45am to 11:25am - Terry MacCarthy, Attorney / Instructor; Cook County Public Defender Office; Chicago, Illinois  "Cross-Examination... The Rest of The Story" (2.5 hrs MCLE)

10:30am to 10:40 am - Morning Break (in middle of previous talk)

11:25am to 12:25pm - James J. Tomkovicz, Professor, University of Iowa College of Law; Iowa City, Iowa   "Criminal Law Impact of Recent US Supreme Court Decisions, The Year in Review" (1 hr MCLE)

12:25pm to 1:30pm - Lunch Break (on your own). There are 9 restaurants(and 9 bars and lounges) inside the Imperial Palace.  The Emperor's Buffet and Burger Palace are on the same floor near the Retreat meeting room.  Pizza Palace and 4 other dinner restaurants are up a nearby escalater.

1:30pm to 2:30pm - William K. Johnston, Ph.D., Forensic Scientist; Tooele, Utah  "What You Need to Know About Forensic Testing & the Scientific Expert" (1 hour MCLE*)

2:30pm to 3:30pm - Christine A. Koehler, Attorney; Lawrenceville, Georgia  “Disgracing Our Profession” (1 hr ethics MCLE)

3:30pm to 3:40pm - Afternoon Break

4:40pm to 5:40pm - William L. Logan, Attorney; Expert Witness; Three Rivers, California  "Defending Medical Marijuana Cases, the Nuts & Bolts” (1 hr MCLE)

Imperial Palace Map (PDF)  |  Imperial Palace Website
 

Studio 54 Nightclub at MGM Grand

This will be our 7th year at Studio 54 in the MGM Grand Hotel.  We will be collecting $60 for men and $40 for women with your Retreat Registration for reserved section seating and VIP entry (no waiting in line), along with several bottles of liquor and our own server / mixer in our reserved section.  The regular men's cover charge is included in our cost.  We are limited to the first 60 people who sign up.  With the huge crowds at all the Vegas nightclubs, the reserved section and no wait in line is a real advantage.  Dress code is enforced: NO baggy jeans, shorts, tennis shoes, or work boots.

You can take the Las Vegas Monorail from the Monorail station at the back of the Imperial Palace directly to the MGM Grand (it runs from 7am to 3am on weekends).  Monorail tickets can be ordered with your Retreat Registration, and you can pick them up at the Retreat Sign-In, Firday Welcome Party, or anytime during the Retreat.

MGM Grand Maps and Directions  |  MGM Grand Website

Las Vegas Strip Map (PDF)

MCLE/CLE* Speakers in the Royal Hall at Imperial Palace

8:30am to 9am - Dave Rendahl - Retreat Sign-In, welcome, announcements, coffee, donuts, and pick up materials in the Royal Hall on the 3rd floor (use escalators just past the hotel registration desk) at the Imperial Palace.

9am to 10am - Christine A. Koehler, Attorney; Lawrenceville, Georgia  "Jury Selection with Focus on DUI Cases" (1 hr MCLE)

10am to 11am - Daniel A. Libby, CHS-III, Owner / Chief Forensic Investigator, Digital Forensics Group; PROTEX International; San Diego, CA  "Computer Forensic Analysis, Finding Evidence & Protecting Your system" (1 hr MCLE)

11am to 11:10am - Morning Break

11:10am to 12:10pm - Edward E. Hueske, Owner Forensic Training & Consulting, LLC; Expert Witness; Denton, Texas  "Shooting Incident Reconstruction" (1 hr MCLE)

12:10pm to 12:20pm - Dave Rendahl, Deputy Public Defende / Retreat Organizer; Visalia, California - Day 2 closing remarks, announcements, future Retreat information, and hotel check-out if you are leaving on Sunday.

Imperial Palace Map (PDF)  |  Imperial Palace Website
 

2008 World Defender Poker Championship

After the MCLE* program on Sunday, we will be holding the 2008 Public Defender Retreat Poker Championship.  Sara Cooper, a Public Defender from Arizona won the 2005 title, Public Defender David Daniel from Pennsylvania won the 2006 event, and the winner of the 2007 poker tournament was Dan Beck, a private criminal defense attorney from Massachusetts.  The entry fee will be $50 per person, (pay in advance with your Retreat Registration).  Each entrant will receive $500 in tournament chips, and the blinds will start at $5 - $10 and go up every 20 minutes.  Prize pool will be paid to the top 10 places, along with trophies, merchandise, and bragging rights.  All entered will also get a neat Retreat T-shirt!  Register soon, limited to the first 50 entrants.  It will be patterned after the World Series of Poker and WPT events that have been all over the TV lately.

When you pay for your entry into the Poker Tournament, you are buying a seat.  That seat is yours, and if you arrive late, or don't show up for the Tourney, your Tournament chips and hands will be blind folded until you arrive, or run out of chips.  If you need to cancel after you have purchased your entry, I will assist you in selling your seat to another attendee.

Las Vegas Strip Map (PDF)
 

Informal Post-Retreat Get Together at Red Square in Mandalay Bay

For anyone staying longer than Sunday, we have started a tradition the past few years of meeting at Red Square (next to rumjungle, between the parking garage and the casino) inside Mandalay Bay Resort.  Red Square has a huge selection of vodka stored in lockers frozen at 10 degrees below.  They even supply mink coats and hats for vodka tasting inside the giant freezer.  Another nice touch is the top of the 25 foot long bar made of ice to keep your drinks cold.

You can take the Las Vegas Monorail from the station at the back of the Imperial Palace to the MGM Grand (it runs from 7am to 2am), then take a free 24-hour tram from the Excalibur Hotel (kitty-corner from MGM) to Mandalay Bay.  Monorail tickets can be ordered with your Retreat Registration, and you can pick them up at the Retreat Sign-In, Firday Welcome Party, or anytime during the Retreat.

Mandalay Bay Maps and Directions  |  Mandalay Bay Website

Las Vegas Strip Map (PDF)