CENTRAL TEXAS FEDERAL
BENCH BAR CONFERENCE PROGRAM
8:00 - 8:30am
Registration / Breakfast Tacos Served
8:25 - 8:30am
Welcome remarks from the Board President
MORNING JOINT SESSION
(Salon C)
8:30 - 9:30am
U.S. Supreme Court Update
Panel: Prof. Stephen Vladeck, Prof. Erin Busby
9:35 - 10:35am
Trial Mistakes and Lessons Learned
Panel: Judge Albright, Judge Gilliland, Steve McConnico
Moderator: Brian Nash
10:35 - 11:00am
Break
11:00 - 12:00pm
The Next Chapter: From the Bench Back to the Bar
Panel: Judge Ferguson (Ret.), Judge Yeakel (Ret.),
Judge Costa (Ret.).
Moderators: Trey Duck, Andrew Broadaway
12:00 - 12:15pm
Break & Lunch Served
12:20 - 1:00pm
Lunch Presentation: Confronting Underground Justice
Judge Pitman, Dr. Bill Kelly, Ph.D.
AFTERNOON A LA CARTE SESSIONS
1:30 - 2:15pm
Breakout Sessions Round 1
High-Stakes Mediation – How to Prepare and How to Win
Panel: Dennis Clifford, Don Philbin, Stephen Crain
Moderator: Brad Beckworth
Salon C
Amendments to FRE 702: What’s New and What’s Not for Expert Testimony Gatekeeping
Panel: Jennifer Greenblatt, Randy Christian
Salon A
Practical Advice from Federal Law Clerks
Panel: Sarah Holland, Caroline Bell, Sandy Strubel Wiele, Mark Scott Moderator: Judge Hightower
Salon D
2:20 - 3:05pm
Breakout Sessions Round 2
Hearing Advice: Judges’ Perspective on Getting One & Doing It Well
Panel: Judge Ezra, Judge Pulliam, Judge Howell
Salon C
Employment Law Update & Practical Advice
Panel: Judge Chestney, Ted Smith, Michael Galo
Salon A
Cybersecurity, Privacy, & AI Trends to Watch in 2024
Panel: Dean Bobby Chesney, Prof. David Springer
Salon D
3:05 - 3:15pm
Break
3:15 - 4:00pm
Breakout Sessions Round 3
Fifth Circuit Update
Panel: David Coale, Marcy Greer
Salon C
Criminal Law: Current Topics in the WDTX
Panel: Judge Lane, Judge Farrer, David Gonzalez,
Michelle Fernald
Salon A
What the Swales?: Litigating FLSA Notice Issues in the
Fifth Circuit and Beyond
Panel: Nicole LeFave, Melinda Arbuckle
Salon D
4:05 - 4:50pm
Breakout Sessions Round 4
Your Brain on Ethics
Panel: Kevin Dubose, Jonathan Smaby, Prof. Robert Prentice, Beverly Godbey
Salon C
Attorneys’ Fees Applications in Federal Court
Panel: Judge Biery, Jeff Edwards, Ryan Botkin, Jason Davis
Moderator: Ryan Squires
Salon A
Digital Evidence: E-Discovery Practice Tips
Panel: Judge Rodriguez, Craig Ball
Salon D
4:50
Happy Hour Reception
