Federal Bar Association - Alaska Chapter

DISTRICT CONFERENCE 2025

Thursday, August 14

9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marriott Anchorage Downtown/Webcast

 820 W 7th Ave, Anchorage

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3.5 General & 1.25 Ethics CLE Credits  

CLE# 2025028

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AGENDA

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

9:30 - 9:40 a.m. – Opening Remarks

Sarah Schirack – President, FBA Alaska Chapter

9:40 – 11:00 a.m. – Advisory Opinions Live Podcast

Enjoy a live edition of top legal podcast, Advisory Opinions. The ever-thoughtful and engaging hosts of the podcast will join us in person to record their latest episode on current events in the law, culture, and why it matters — and will take live audience questions. [Recommendation: Listen to a few free episodes before the conference so you can get to know the hosts and enjoy this even more.] 1.25 General CLE Credit.

Sarah Isgur – Political commentator & former U.S. DOJ spokesperson

David French – Opinion columnist & former U.S. Army JAG officer

11:00 – 11:15 a.m. – Morning Break

11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Motivations for & Reflections on Public Lawyering & Judgeships

Join us for a discussion about what might bring you to public service, differences between government lawyering and deciding cases as a judge, and best practices for addressing history, tradition, and original meaning in light of changing legal landscapes. 1.25 General CLE Credit.

Judge Patrick Bumatay – U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Judge Chad Readler – U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Stephen Cox – Bristol Bay Indust. SVP & former E.D. Tex. U.S. Attorney

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch & Networking

1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – Ethics Panel on Meeting the Current Moment

There’s no shying away from the fact that lawyers and judges are facing increasingly complex questions about their professional obligations. This panel will ask and answer challenging questions about lawyers’ obligations to our institutions, the rule of law, and the judiciary. 1.25 Ethics CLE Credits.

Bob Bundy – Former D. Alaska U.S. Attorney

Judge Robert Lasnik – USDC Western District of Washington

2:15 – 2:30 p.m. – Afternoon Break

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. – Panel with Visiting Ninth Circuit Judges

1 General CLE Credit.

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. – Closing & networking

HOSTED BY THE 2025 ALASKA FBA BOARD:

• Sarah Schirack, FBA President - Counsel, Perkins Coie
• Jessie Alloway - Solicitor General, Civil Appeals, State of Alaska
• Joe Busa - Deputy Municipal Attorney, Municipality of Anchorage
• Andrea Hattan - Attorney-Advisor, NOAA
• Jeremy Leib -Senior Attorney, Earthjustice
• Michelle Nesbett - Senior Counsel, Birch Horton
• 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

Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot

Cashion Gilmore & Lindemuth LLC

Davis Wright Tremain LLP

Gold Level

Silver Level

Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Miller & Monkman, LLP

Stoel Rives LLP

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/  ).