Continuing Legal Education Program

Information

Federal Bar Association - Alaska Chapter

DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2026

Wednesday, August 12
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.*
Hotel Captain Cook/Webcast
939 W 5th Ave, Anchorage

*Reception to follow 

March Forth Screening
Tuesday, August 11
Anchorage Museum Auditorium

6:00 PM Doors Open
6:30 PM Film Starts
Q & A to follow

More information: https://alaskabar.org/wp-content/uploads/March-Forth.png 

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5.0 General CLE Credits
CLE# 2026028

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MUST PRE-REGISTER by August 4

Registration is on the honor system.  Please select the appropriate category.

If you're located in the Anchorage area, please consider attending in person for the best opportunities to network, connect, and engage in meaningful conversation. 

This program is NOT being recorded and will not be included in our VOD catalog.

Private practice lawyers at firms with +10 lawyers:

FBA Member $180. Non-member $220.
Webcast FBA Member $170. Non-member $210

Private practice lawyers at firms with fewer than 10 lawyers: 

FBA Member $70. Non-member $110.
Webcast FBA Member $60. Non-member $100

Government lawyers, public interest lawyers: 

FBA Member $35. Non-member $65.
Webcast FBA Member $35. Non-member $65

Federal & state law clerks, judges & court personnel: Free

Webcast: Free

To get the member discount for this event and support continued FBA programming, please join or renew here.
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AGENDA

8:30 - 9:00 a.m. - Sign-in, Coffee, and Networking

9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Opening Remarks

• Honorable Sharon Gleason - Chief U.S. District Judge, Anchorage

9:35 - 10:30 a.m. - Mandatory Minimum Penalties and Supervised Release with a Personal Account

• Dr. Shaneva D. McReynolds - Executive Director, Families Against Mandatory Minimums
• Jane Imholte - Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of Alaska

10:30 - 10:50 a.m. - Morning Break

10:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Felons and Guns: Law, Rights, and Redemption

MacArthur Genius Fellow Reginald Dwayne Betts will share his personal journey and reflections on the lasting impact of felony convictions, including the loss of civil rights and opportunities. Providing legal and federal practice context, Professor Thomas Frampton and an attorney from the Federal Public Defender’s office will examine the constitutional, statutory, and practical dimensions of firearm restrictions for individuals with felony convictions. Together, the panel will explore how law, policy, and lived experience shape ongoing debates about public safety, punishment, rehabilitation, and reintegration. 

• Reginald Dwayne Betts - Poet, Lawyers, and Founder & CEO, Freedom Reads
• Thomas Frampton - Professor of Law, George Washington University
• Daniel Poulson - Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of Alaska
• Aadika Singh - Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of Alaska

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - Lunch & Networking

1:00 - 1:45 p.m. - Federal Indian Law Update

• Bob Anderson - Visiting Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Professor Emeritus of Law, University of Washington; former Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior

1:45 - 2:45 p.m. - Current Developments in Alaska Native Law and Policy

• Bob Anderson - Visiting Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Professor Emeritus of Law, University of Washington; former Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior
• Aaron Schutt - Former President & CEO, Doyon, Ltd.
• Kyle Scherer - Partner, Venable LLP
• Moderated by Whitney Leonard - Partner, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Miller & Monkman, LLP

2:45 - 3:00 pm. - Afternoon Break

3:00 - 4:15 p.m. - Panel with Visiting Ninth Circuit Judges

• Moderated by Judge Morgan Christen (9th Cir.)

The panel welcomes and invites your questions in advance, to be sent to FBAAlaska@gmail.com.

4:30 - 6:00 p.m. - Closing Reception & Networking

All members of the bench and bar are invited to a closing reception in the Chambers of Judge Morgan Christen, 605 W. 4th Avenue. Please bring a valid photo ID, as all guests will be required to pass through courthouse security before entering.

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Thank you to the following Board Members, Advisors, and Conference Planners:

• Jeremy Lieb, FBA President - Senior Attorney, Earthjustice
• Jessie Alloway - Assistant Attorney General, Civil Appeals, Alaska Department of Law
• Whitney Brown - Partner, Stoel Rives
•  Joseph Busa - Deputy Municipal Attorney, Solicitor General, Municipality of Anchorage
• Matthew Findley - Shareholder, Ashburn & Mason
• Andrea Hattan - Attorney-Advisor, NOAA 
• Jane Imholte - Assistant Federal Defender, District of Alaska
• Whitney Leonard - Partner, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Miller & Monkman, LLP
• Sarah Schirack - Counsel, Ashurst Perkins Coie
• Aadika Singh - Assistant Federal Public Defender, District of Alaska
• Kate Vogel - Senior Counsel, Municipality of Anchorage
• Cristina Weidner Tafs - Owner Susitna Law

Thank you to our sponsors!

The Alaska FBA is sincerely grateful to the sponsors listed below for their generous support.

Platinum Level

Gold Level 

Silver Level

Interested in sponsoring? Please email cle@alaskabar.org to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

Course Materials: A digital copy of the program materials is available 24 hours prior to the event by logging into your member dashboard at www.alaskabar.org/members. Select "My Course Materials," located under the "My Documents" header on the left side of your dashboard.

If you are registered for this program, you already have an AK Bar account and can access the materials. If you need assistance with your login information, please contact the AK Bar office at 907-272-7469.

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Explore More AK Bar Programs: Don’t miss out on our other upcoming events and CLE opportunities! To view our full calendar and register for additional programs - https://alaskabar.org/cle-mcle/member-events/.

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More about the Federal Bar Association: Click here to learn more about membership. ( https://members.fedbar.org/).

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Photo & Media Release Statement: By registering for and attending this event, you grant the Alaska Bar Association permission to capture, record, and use your likeness in photographs, videos, and other media. These materials may be used for promotional, educational, or informational purposes in print, online, and social media.  

If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please notify event staff upon arrival. For questions regarding this policy, contact cle@alaskabar.org.