CPDA Mental Health/Civil Commitment Practice Seminar

Friday, October 17, 2025

University of California at Berkeley

Clark Kerr Campus 

 

Join us for CPDA’s Mental Health/Civil Commitment Practice Seminar, a full-day program designed for defenders navigating the intersection of criminal law and mental health systems. This seminar brings together experienced public defenders, social workers, and mental health advocates to share practical strategies and emerging best practices in conservatorship and probate proceedings, competency to stand trial issues, and eliminating bias in outpatient treatment determinations. Attendees will gain insight into peer navigation models, holistic defense approaches integrating social work, and effective advocacy tools for clients facing civil commitment or mental health-related criminal proceedings.

With a mix of legal expertise and interdisciplinary perspectives, this training for both attorneys and social workers will equip you to deliver stronger, more informed representation to some of our most vulnerable clients.

This training will provide 6 hours of MCLE Credit, including 1 hour in the Elimination of Bias.

Breakfast and Lunch in the private Garden Patio is provided. 

$225.00 Members/$275.00 Non-Members 

*** If you are a social worker or non-attorney defense team member in a CPDA member office, please contact [email protected] for information on special pricing. ****

If there are 5 or more people from your office who plan to attend and pay together, please contact [email protected] to receive the group discount.

In-person or live-stream option available.

Register here 
TimeSubject and PresenterMCLE Credit
8:00 a.m. Registration   
8:50 a.m. Opening Remarks  
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Competency to Stand Trial

Gabrielle Alexander, Deputy Public Defender, Contra Costa County

Lauren Askeland, Deputy Public Defender, Contra Costa County

 1.5 hours
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. Break  
10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Conservatorship Practice – LPS and Probate

Karen Thompson, Deputy Public Defender, Sonoma County

William Lenehan, Deputy Public Defender, Ventura County

  1.5 hours
12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch provided in Garden Patio  
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Eliminating Bias from Outpatient Mental Health Determinations 

Judy Cleary, Deputy Public Defender, Santa Clara County

Harpreet Samra, Lead Social Worker, San Mateo Private Defender Program

Jeanne Muñoz, Sacramento County Conflict Criminal Defenders

 1.0 hour [Elimination of Bias] 
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Navigating Courts and Mental Health Systems through Peer Navigation

Noah Cox, Deputy Public Defender, Los Angeles County

Kusema Thomas, Southern California Health and Rehabilitaiton Program (SCHARP)

James Coley, Southern California Health and Rehabilitaiton Program (SCHARP)

Full-Service Partnership Team Member 

 1.0 hour
3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Break  
3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Elevating Mental Health Defense with Social Work

Angelene Musawwir, Forensic Social Work Supervisor, Contra Costa County

Sascha Atkins-Loria, Holistic Defense Mitigation Supervisor, Alameda County

  1.0 hour