Registration is being taken by the NJCHS. 

CLICK HERE for In-Person Registration

CLICK HERE for Virtual Registration

1.5 CLE to be applied for in Washington

Chief Judge Estudillo Presents:
WDWA’s 2026 Annual CLE and District Meeting
One Challenge After Another – Immigration, Elections and the Courts

Immigration Panel:

Current Issues Related to Immigration Enforcement

UW School of Law Professor Angélica Cházaro will moderate a panel discussing issues arising from current immigration enforcement practices. The panel will feature Matt Adams, Legal Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Jennie Pasquarella, Legal Director of the Seattle Clemency Project, and Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, Attorney at the ACLU of Minnesota. The panelists will share their expertise and experience in constitutional and statutory litigation in the federal courts related to immigration enforcement. Topics will range from Fourth Amendment issues in immigration arrests, to the legality of mandatory or indefinite pre-removal hearing detention, to concerns regarding current third-country removal practices.

Panelists:
Matt Adams, Legal Director, Northwest Immigrants Rights Project
Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Minnesota
Jennie Pasquarella, Legal Director, Seattle Clemency Project

Moderated by:
Professor Angélica Cházaro, University of Washington School of Law

Election Panel:

Election Law Developments in 2026: Redistricting, Representation, and Administration

Pacifica Law Group partner Zach Pekelis will moderate a discussion of contemporary developments and dynamics in election law, policy, and politics, focusing on major Supreme Court cases and other litigation, doctrinal reforms, and on-the-ground impacts. The panel will feature Abha Khanna, an election-law partner with Elias Law Group; Professor Benjamin Cover of the University of Idaho College of Law; and Sam Oliker-Friedland, CEO of the Institute for Responsive Government. The discussion will cover the fate and future of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, including the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision in Louisiana v. Callais; redistricting reform and theories of democratic representation; and modern issues in election administration, including mail-in voting and the Supreme Court’s forthcoming decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee.

Panelists:
Abha Khanna, Partner, Elias Law Group
Sam Oliker-Friedland, Executive Director, Institute for Responsive Government
Benjamin Plener Cover, Professor, University of Idaho College of Law

Moderated by:
Zach Pekelis, Partner, Pacifica Law Group

State of the District:
The program will also include remarks from Chief Judge Estudillo on the state of the District Court, as well as from Chief Judge Alston on the state of the Bankruptcy Court.

Time:
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
reception to follow

Location:
U.S. District Courthouse
700 Stewart Street
Seattle, WA 98101 

CLE credits will be requested through WSBA

Registration prices include all applicable taxes.

Seminar: 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Reception: 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

AGENDA

Introductory Panel

• Amit Ranade, Snell & Wilmer
• Shane Creason, Bush Kornfeld LLP
• Alexandra Yerigan-Funk, Ryan Swanson Cleveland PLLC
• David Neu, Miller Nash LLP (Moderator)

The panel will deliver an overview of general case administration including both debtor-side and creditor-side issues, trustee/estate roles, litigation matters, and transactional matters. They will also discuss helpful law school courses to take for those interested in federal bankruptcy practice as well as clinics, externships, clerkships, and other avenues for gaining experience.

Consumer Panel

• Darren Krattli, Eisenhower Carlson PLLC
• Angela Neeleman, Neeleman Law Group
• Samuel Dart, Hunnex & Shoemaker
• David Neu, Miller Nash LLP (Moderator)

Commercial Panel

• Jason Wax, Bush Kornfeld LLP
• Aimee Willig, Bush Kornfeld LLP
• Todd Brannon, Ballard Spahr
• David Neu, Miller Nash LLP (Moderator)
  
  

Judges Panel 

• Hon. Christopher Alston, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
• Hon. Timothy Dore, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
• Hon. Mary Jo Heston, United States Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Washington
• David Neu, Miller Nash LLP (Moderator)
  

The judges will discuss their personal road to the bench, what a typical day in federal bankruptcy court looks like, what are common cases they see, and what separates effective advocates from ineffective ones.

A networking reception will take place immediately following the program for all attendees and speakers.