2026 District of Idaho Eastern Bench & Bar Conference
Sponsored by the United States Courts, District of Idaho
Friday, September 25, 2026
8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. (MT)
Mountain America Center
1690 Event Center Drive. – Idaho Falls
*In-Person Attendance Only*
6.0 CLE credits of which 1.0 is Ethics
Registration Fee:
Attorney $145.00
Federal Defender/US Attorney/Law Clerk
Law School Faculty & Staff or
Young Lawyers Section Member $ 75.00
Federal Law Clerk/Judge/Law Students
(With ID) No Charge
NOTE: All Registration Fees Will Increase by $10 on September 22nd.
Join the United States District Court, District of Idaho for their annual Eastern Bench Bar Conference in Idaho Falls.
Agenda
8:30 am Welcome and the State of the Federal Judiciary
Hon. Amanda K. Brailsford, Chief U.S. District Judge
Hon. Raymond E. Patricco, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge
Hon. Debora K. Grasham, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Hon. Noah G. Hillen, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
Hon. Ryan D. Nelson, Circuit Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
9:00 am The U.S. Supreme Court’s Most Recent and Upcoming Terms
Richard H. Seamon, University of Idaho College of Law
This presentation will highlight the major decisions from the completed October 2025
Term and discuss some of the major issues the Court will take up in the October 2026
Term
10:00 am Break
10:15 am Ethics in Legal Practice
Joseph N. Pirtle, Idaho State Bar Counsel
Practitioners will learn about the public discipline cases and how the Idaho Rules of
Professional Conduct were implicated in each case. The presentation will also include an
overview of grievance investigations and the discipline process in Idaho.
11:15 am Persuasive Legal Writing – the Basics & Beyond
Tenielle Fordyce-Ruff, Arizona State University-Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law
The topics will include the fundamentals of persuasion including readability, correctness
and document design. The presentation will also go over a few advanced persuasive
techniques like alliteration & assonance, onomatopoeia, figures of speech, and cadence.
12:15 pm Award Presentation
Lawyer Representative Service Award
Presented to Sam L. Angell, Hall Angell & Associates, LLP & Lawyer Representative for the
6th and 7th Judicial Districts
12:30 pm Lunch & Mingle
1:30 pm Ethos: A Legacy of Ethical Advocacy in Idaho
David L. Metcalf, University of Idaho College of Law
Mr. Metcalf will present examples of Idaho attorneys who have displayed the highest
ethical standards in their zealous advocacy.
2:30 pm Immigration Law Panel Discussion
Maria Andrade, Green Evans-Schroeder
This panel will discuss current dealings in immigration cases from the judicial point of
view. The goal of this presentation is to provide everyone with a basic understanding of
what’s happening procedurally in immigration cases.
3:30 pm Break
3:45 pm Ask the Experts: Federal Judicial Panel
Panel: All available Judges
Practitioners will have the opportunity to ask our appellate, bankruptcy, district, and
magistrate judges questions about best practices and preferred procedures for federal
practice. Please submit your questions at registration or come prepared to ask questions
at the conference.
4:45 pm Program Concludes
