Here is the final Retreat Up-Date before we all get to Las Vegas.  We are approximately a week away from the Public Defender Las Vegas Retreat.  We now have over 240 registrations, from over 30 states and several countries.  Here is some up-dated information on the Retreat sign-in, Field Trip to Clark County Public Defender's Office, Retreat activities, and several speaker changes.

For anyone who needs to reach me, as we get closer to the Retreat, My cell number is:  559-303-4377.

Speaker Changes

We just were informed that two of our speakers will not be able to appear.

Due to unforeseen, and unavoidable circumstances, Terry MacCarthy, (head of the Chicago Federal Defender Office) will miss our Retreat.  He will be in Bosnia helping the United Nations establish a judicial system.  We are fortunate enough to have the same valued talk and information on cross examination presented by Terry's son, and Cook County Public Defender, Terry MacCarthy.  He has taught this material many times with his dad, and is a very experienced teacher, as well as a top criminal defense attorney.   The senior Terry MacCarthy is world famous for his approach to cross examination.  His son will give the same talk, expanded to two and a half hours of priceless information.

Terry MacCarthy  has dedicated his legal career to the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, where he has defended accused citizens in all types of cases, including complex felonies and Capital Murder.  In addition to his courtroom practice, Mr. MacCarthy has earned a well-deserved reputation as an excellent Trial Advocacy teacher, as he has dedicated much of his spare time teaching trial advocacy and
training other lawyers through lectures, demonstrations, and small group teaching.  He has taught extensively around the country, and serves on the faculty of several Trial Advocacy programs, most notably the National Criminal Defense College, in Macon, Georga, and the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Chicago Law School.

Also, Dan Monnat will not be able to present  "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Kung Fu for Trial."  He is currently in a first degree murder re-trial in Stanton County, Kansas.  It was believed that the trial would have been finished before the Retreat, but due to some prosecutor voir dire tricks extending the jury selection process by several weeks, and a judge that allowed it, Dan will not be able to attend the Retreat.  In his place, William K. Johnston, Ph.D., a forensic scientist from Toole, Utah, will present a one hour talk on "What You Need to Know About Forensic Testing & the Scientific Expert."  Bill is a former California Department of Justice Criminalist and Director of the Southern Utah University Master in Forensic Science Program.  He will discuss don't ask don't tell problems with scientific evidence that he has experienced in his 36 year career as a forensic scientist.  Discussion topics will include blood alcohol and breath testing programs, drug testing, clandestine laboratories, shootings, and homicide investigations.  This information will help in direct examination of your experts, and cross examination of the secretive prosecution expert.

Retreat Registration / Sign-In
Friday April 18, 2008, 1pm to 4pm

We will have the Retreat Sign-In in the Plaza Room on the 5th floor (near the dining areas) inside the Imperial Palace.  We will try to have signs directing attendees, or ask for directions at the front desk or bell desk.  You can pick up the Retreat handout  materials, your name badge, 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 and during each day's program.

Clark County Public Defender's Office Field Trip
Friday April 18, 2008, 2;30pm to 4pm

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 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.  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) and I will make sure you will be part of this informational tour.

Welcome Party
Friday April 18, 2008, 4pm to 7pm

We will have our Friday Welcome Party in the Grand Salon inside the Auto Collections on the fifth level of the self-parking facility at the Imperial Palace, but again details and directions can be found at the Retreat sign-in, or at the front / bell desk at 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).  Food and Hors d'oeuvres will be provided, as well as some drinks, and a cash bar will also be available.

Harrah's Comedy Show
Friday April 18, 2008, 10:30pm show

Friday Night, after the Welcome party, a large group of attendees are going to The Improv, (Harrah's Comedy Show), April 18, 2008, the 10:30pm show (be there by 10pm to get your seats).  The Improv has consistently been one of the best comedy shows in Vegas.  Harrah’s is located right next door to the Imperial Palace, so it’s an easy walk over.  I have reserved 100 tickets for the show, and over half are gone.  The discounted price is $28.00 per person, (includes tax and fees, a big savings from the regular price, and great seats).  If you have already purchased your ticket(s) with your Retreat Registration, you can pick them up with your Retreat materials on Friday afternoon, or at the Welcome party.  If you want more tickets or want to attend the Improv, let me know as soon as possible.

MCLE program, Saturday
April 19 & 20, 2008

The Retreat program will be held in the Royal Hall at the Imperial Palace Hotel & Casino.  It is just up the long escalator, near the front desk.  Coffee and donuts will be available each day of the program.

MCLE PROGRAM - SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS

Saturday April 19, 2008

8:15am to 8:45am - Welcome, announcements, coffee, donuts, Dave Rendahl, Deputy Public Defender / Retreat Organizer; Visalia, California

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

10:30am to 10:40am - 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  (on your own)

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 hr 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)

Sunday, April 20, 2008

8:30am to 9:00am - Welcome, announcements, coffee, donuts, Dave Rendahl

9:00am to 10:00am - Christine A. Koehler, Attorney; Lawrenceville, Georgia  "Jury Selection with Focus on DUI Cases" (1 hr MCLE)

10:00am to 11:00am - Daniel A. Libby, Owner / Chief Forensic Investigator, Digital Forensics Group; PROTEX International; San Diego, CA  "Computer Forensic Analysis, Finding Evidence & Protecting Your system" (1 hr MCLE)

11:00am 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 - Closing remarks, announcements, future, Dave Rendahl, Deputy Public Defender / Retreat Organizer; Visalia, California

Buy Monorail Tickets with Retreat Registration:

There is a Monorail station (1 of the 7 stations along The Strip) at the back of the Imperial Palace, close to the parking garage.  The Las Vegas Monorail takes you at speeds up to 50 mph all the way to the Sahara Hotel on the north end of The Strip and to the MGM Grand on the south end of The Strip.  And there is also a free tram that goes from the Excalibur Hotel (kitty-corner from MGM) to Mandalay Bay too.  You can order single and multiple ride Monorail tickets and single and multiple day passes with your Retreat Registration and pick them up at the Retreat Sign-In or anytime during the Retreat.

Available as follows:  Monorail Tickets:  1-ride $5 ea,   2-ride $9 ea,  10-ride $35 ea,  1-day Pass $9 ea (on sale - big discount),  3-day Pass $40 ea.

Studio 54 Nightclub
Saturday night, April 19, 2008, 10 pm to ???

(We are a limited to 60 people in our reserved section, and are almost sold out.)

On Saturday night, large group will again be going to Studio 54 nightclub inside the MGM Grand.  We have always had a reserved section, and VIP entry, (no waiting in line).  The cost to get this has been going up every year.  This year, they have only one option for us to get this neat feature at their nightclub.  They raised the price to our group, but now the $20 cover charge (men only) and 5 bottles of liquor, (with our own server / mixer in our reserved section) are included in the price.  Therefore, we are collecting $60 for men and $40 for women that you can pay along with your Retreat Registration.  With the huge crowds at all the nightclubs, the reserved section and no wait in line is a real advantage.  They do have a dress code, and it is pretty strictly enforced.  But the only real problem clothes are no blue jeans, or tennis shoes.  Any kind of slacks are fine, and polo or button shirts are okay.  It is my experience that dress for women can go from very conservative, (pants / skirt / dress) to as wild as you like.  I will have a list of those going, with instructions, available at the Retreat check-in on Friday, or any time on Saturday.

2008 World Defender Poker Championship (Poker Tournament) Sunday
April 20, 2008, 2pm to 5pm???

(The Tournament is limited to 50 entrants, and is filling up fast.)

2008 World Defender Poker Championship (Poker Tournament, Limited to 50 Entrants)

Sunday afternoon, 2 pm to 5 pm??: After the MCLE program, we will be holding the 2008 Public Defender Retreat Poker Championship.  We have 35 entries now, so if anyone is interested in becoming a living legend, and wants to play, let me know.

Retreat Registration

If you have any friends or associates who may want to attend this year's Retreat, have them hurry.  Full Retreat information, as well as a registration form, can be found on the Retreat website at:

http://www.publicdefenderretreat.com/

If you have any questions, give me a call or email, and I will see you in Las Vegas.

Thanks!!

Sincerely,

Dave Rendahl, Deputy Public Defender Tulare County Public Defender's Office Courthouse, Room G-35 County Civic Center Visalia, CA 93291
Office: 559-733-6693, FAX: 559-733-6113 drendahl@co.tulare.ca.us or Dave@PublicDefenderRetreat.com Attend the 8th Annual Public Defender Las Vegas Retreat, April 18-20, 2008
http://www.PublicDefenderRetreat.com/