The Class of 2011

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Ashley Adams
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Felipe Alexandre
Felipe was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil but raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended law school at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. He currently works for the Monroe County Public Defender Office. His most important words to live by are, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re usually right,” taken from Henry Ford. He is most proud of his foreign language skills. He wishes he would have studied social work in college. He enjoys watching a good movie.

Meredith Angelson
Meredith is from New York City and she attended NYU Law School. She currently works at OPD. Her most important words to live by are, “Everything flows and nothing abides; everything gives way and nothing stays fixed.” She is most proud of her current job. She wishes she would have gone abroad during college. She enjoys running.

John T. Baird
John is from Hoover, Alabama and he attended the University of Alabama Law School. He currently works at the Office of the Public Defender in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His most important words to live by are, “Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything,” taken from Kurt Vonnegut. He is most proud of his brother. He wishes he would have also gone to business school. His favorite way to spend time is at bench trials.

Beverly Beaver
Beverly is from Merchantville, New Jersey and she attended Rutgers School of Law (Camden). She currently works for the Defenders Association of Philadelphia. Her most important words to live by are, “Our greatest glory consist not in never failing; but in rising every time we fall,” taken from Oliver Goldsmith. She is most proud of her work with the Rutgers-Camden Children’s Justice Clinic. She wishes she would’ve won the last game of her senior year in college so they could have qualified for the playoffs. Her favorite way to spend time is by reading on the beach or doing anything athletic, mostly running, biking, yoga and dancing.

Katie Benward
Kate is from Seattle, Washington and she attended the University Of Washington School Of Law. She currently works at the Public Defender’s Office for the city of La Grange in Kentucky. Her most important words to live by are, “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” taken from Frederick Douglas. She is most proud of her cookie making skills. She wishes she would have dedicated more time to learning Spanish. Her favorite way to spend time is by biking, playing Badminton, reading, and spending time with her son, Arlo.

Emilia Beskind
Emilia is from Durham, North Carolina and she received her JD from Duke University Law School and her LLM from Georgetown University Law Center. She currently works from OPD. Her most important words to live by are, “The more laws, the less justice.” She is most proud of coaching the inaugural season of a 6-8th grade girls’ volleyball team. They couldn’t afford a net, held practice in the teachers’ parking lot, but still had a winning season. She wishes she would have learned how to ride a bike. Her favorite way to spend her time, two words- Reality Television!

Adam Braunbeck
Adam is from Louisville, Kentucky and he attended Duke University Law School. He currently works for the Louisville Metro Public Defender Office. His most important words to live by are, “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” He is most proud of passing the bar, well this is more so of a hope but essentially it will be his proudest moment. He wishes he would have learned Japanese while he was living in Japan. He is a political junkie, so he spends a lot of his free time keeping up on the latest news and commentary. Yet, this particular hobby has become increasingly depressing so he feels it may be time to find a new way to spend his time.

Royale L. Colbert Jr.
Royale is from Lafayette, Louisiana and he attended Southern University Law School. He currently works at the 15th JDC Public Defenders Office. He is most proud of his military service. He wishes he would have stayed on active duty with the Army. His favorite way to spend time is by teaching Tae Kwon Do.

Christen Chapman
Christen is from Lakewood, California and attended Loyola Law School in L.A. She currently works at OPD. Her most important words to live by are, “Make the injustice visible,” taken from Gandhi.  She is most proud of running a marathon. She wishes she would have spent more time reading non law books during law school. She enjoys listening to live music.

Cheryl Cutting
Cheryl is form Allen Park, Michigan and she attended Mercer University- Walter F. George School of Law. She currently works at the Atlantic Judicial Circuit. Her most important words to live by are, “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being, with freedom comes responsibility,” taken from Eleanor Roosevelt. She is most proud of graduating from law school and becoming a public defender. She doesn’t believe in regret. She enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Julia DeKovich
Julia is from Livonia, Michigan and she attended Northeastern University School of Law. She currently works with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. She is most proud of the work she has done with underprivileged youth. She wishes she would have done study abroad in college and studied in Spain. She enjoys listening to music, dancing, practicing Spanish, swimming in the ocean or Lake Michigan, drinking coffee and talking with friends.

Sharif A. Deveaux
Sharif is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and he attended North Carolina Central University School of Law. He currently works at the Wake County Public Defender Office. His most important words to live by are “Love Living Life”. He is most proud of accepting Christ. He doesn’t have any regrets. His favorite way to spend time is by watching T.V.

Ashley B. Graham
Ashley is from Columbia, South Carolina and she attended Emory University School of Law after transferring from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law in 2008. She currently works in the Department of Public Advocacy in Covington, Kentucky. Her most important words to live by are, “Don’t take yourself too seriously.” She is most proud of getting out of South Carolina. More specifically, she is proud of starting on a career path that she never expected she would be on. Besides this new adventure she enjoys a good cup of coffee, shopping at farmer’s markets and stationary stores, getting sucked into a good movie and cooking with friends.

Patrick R. Hakes
Patrick, who prefers not to be called Pat, is from El Paso, Illinois and he attended Case Western Reserve University Law School. He currently works at the Nashville-Davidson Metropolitan Public Defender Office. His most important words to live by are, “Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world,” taken from Jane Adams. He is proud of finishing law school, running a marathon, and not losing his mind while studying for the Bar this summer. He wishes he would have done Peace Corps before law school. He can’t do it now because he is in too much debt. His favorite way to spend time is by cooking, eating, running, and playing guitar.

Kathryn Hansel
Katie is from Stevens Point, Wisconsin and she attended Northwestern University School of Law. She currently works at the Metro Davidson Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “If you want peace work for justice.”  She is most proud of helping to represent a client in a post-conviction proceeding. She wishes she would have watched The Wire. Her favorite way to spend time is by eating good food with friends.

Emily A. Herbert
Emily is from Nashville, Tennessee and she attended The University of Tennessee College of Law. She currently works at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. Her most important words to live by are an “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”, taken from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She is most proud of following her path to indigent legal defense despite the challenges, discouragement, and conventional wisdom. She wishes she would have studied meteorology.  She enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing sports, and working in her yard.

Katherine Higgins
Katie is from Ithaca, New York and she attended Cornell University School of Law. She currently works at the Monroe County Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “If you look into the lives of others, you’ll always find yourself lacking.”  Look instead at what you have and be grateful.” She is most proud of moving to the city of New York a week before 9/11 and staying there for 4 years anyway. She wishes she would have joined the circus. She enjoys watching great live music and reading English murder mysteries.

William David Hoffer
William is from Dunwoody, Georgia and he attended Liberty University School of Law. He currently works at the Ogeechee Public Defender’s Office. His most important words to live by are, “Illegitimi non carborundum.” He is most proud of not having failed yet. He wishes he would have stuck with his piano lessons. His favorite way to spend time is by reading, writing, and resting.

Ray S. Ibarra
Ray is from Cypress, California and he attended Georgetown University Law Center. He currently works at the Kentucky Department of Advocacy in the Covington Trial Branch. His most important words to live by are, “With great power comes great responsibility.” He is most proud of having moved six times in three years, all to get and keep a job in indigent defense. He wishes he would’ve learned how to sing a song on pitch. He enjoys reading, playing games, or simply exploring.

Andrea Kendall
Andrea is from Toledo, Ohio and she attended Georgetown University Law Center. She currently works at the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, Boone County Division. Her most important words to live by are, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,” taken from Eleanor Roosevelt. She is most proud of graduating from law school and fighting for the little guys every day. She wishes she would have traveled abroad. She enjoys playing board games and watching movies.

Monique L. Kolder
Monique is from New Orleans, Louisiana and she attended Loyola University School of Law. She currently works at the 15th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “If you think you might regret not doing something, do it. Chances are if you don’t, you will always wonder what if.” She is most proud of her husband and her family. She is also proud of serving as a civilian government contractor, working in the Middle East on a United States Air Force Base. She doesn’t have any regrets. She believes everything happens for a reason. She enjoys going to the movies with her husband, cooking, or spending time with her brother’s kids.

Wendy Lewis
Wendy is from Bakersfield, California and she attended West Virginia University School of Law. She currently works at the office of the Public Defender in the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. Her most important words to live by are, “Work hard and enjoy the work you do”.  She is most proud of accomplishing her goal to become a public defender. She does not have any regrets for the actions she has or has not taken in her life. She enjoys relaxing and spending time with family.

Chanel Long
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Roberta E. Longmire
Roberta is from Daphne, Alabama and she attended Louisiana State University Law School. She currently works for the Fulton County Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “Common sense often makes good law.” She is most proud of her sons. She wishes she would have gone to law school right after undergrad. Her favorite way to spend time is with her family.

Gianna Maio
Gianna is from Tallmadge, Ohio and she attended the University Of Tennessee College Of Law. She currently works at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. Her most important words to live by are, “Don’t be humble, you’re not that great,” taken from Golda Meier. She is most proud of professionally, choosing a career that is in line with her core values and personally, that she is a lawyer with a happy personal life. She wishes she would have studied abroad. Her favorite way to spend time is with her husband, her son, and her friends. She also enjoys cooking.

Kathryn M. Merwald
Kate is from Lenexa, Kansas and she attended New York University School of Law. She currently works for the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. Her most important words to live by are, “ In the matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same,” taken from Albert Einstein. She is most proud of the work she did in the community and criminal defense clinic during her last year of law school. She wishes she would have travelled throughout Africa, Asia, and South America. Her favorite way to spend time is by discovering and listening to music.

Melissa Michel
Melissa is from Kennesaw, Georgia and she attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She currently works at the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office in the Atlanta Circuit. Her most important words to live by are, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,” taken from Theodore Roosevelt. She is most proud of getting through law school. She wishes she would have participated in some sport during college. Her favorite way to spend time is by watching a movie at the theatre.

Mary Murphy
Mary is from Takoma Park, Maryland and she attended the University of Texas Law School. She currently works at OPD. Her most important words to live by are, “Keep on keeping on.” She is most proud of finding a field in the law that she enjoys and that is part of a movement for social justice. She wishes she would have been a pianist or a better soccer player. She enjoys laughing with friends.

Cecilia A. Ndounda
Cecilia is from Hayward, California and she attended Mississippi College School of Law. She currently works at the Orleans Public Defender’s office. Her most important words to live by are, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. She is most proud of the fact that she never once strayed from her dreams and goals despite the challenges she has had in her life. There’s nothing she wishes she would have done because she believes everything happens for a reason. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Sarah H. Olesiuk
Sarah is from Asheville, North Carolina and she attended Boston College Law School. She currently works at the Knox County Public Defender’s Community Law Office. Her most important words to live by are, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”, taken from Mother Teresa. She is most proud of a case she worked on with the New England Innocence Project and running the Boston Marathon. She wishes she would have spent a summer working on her great aunt’s farm. She enjoys cooking, running, and visiting historic buildings.

Jill Pasquarella
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Kevin Roberts
Kevin is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and he attended Washington University School of Law. He currently works at the Orleans Public Defender’s Office. His most important words to live by are “Never Stagnate”. He is most proud of never refusing to compromise his values. He wishes he would have travelled the world. He enjoys listening to music.

Bert Roughton III
Bert is from Atlanta, Georgia and he attended New York Law School. He currently works at the Atlanta Judicial Circuit. His most important words to live by are “Never do tomorrow what you can do today”. He is most proud of becoming a public defender. He wishes he would have seen more of the world before starting law school and work. His favorite way to spend time is with the people he loves.

Daniel Huff Jung Satterfield
Daniel is from Hopkinsville, Kentucky and he attended Hofstra University School of Law. He currently works at the Nashville Public Defender’s Office. His most important words to live by are, “Do justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly with your God.” He is most proud of being able to quit smoking for 9 months, even though he did pick the habit back up he is still proud of those 9 months. When it comes to things he wishes he would have done, it remains the usual like most people wish they could have been able to do. He wishes he could have gone sky-diving; become a major league baseball player; told his first crush how he really felt; or, alternatively, found a magic lamp and kept wishing for three more wishes. He enjoys books, movies, and the outdoors or pretty much anything that lets his mind wander.

Mary Katherine Sauer
Kate is from Katonah, New York and she attended UC Hastings Law School. She currently works at the office of Capital Writs- Austin, Texas. Her most important words to live by are, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” She is most proud of making it through law school. She wishes she would have gone to Yosemite while living in California. Her favorite way to spend time is by getting lost in a good book.

Georgia L. Sims
Georgia is from Nashville, Tennessee and she attended Vanderbilt University School of Law. She currently works at Metro Davidson County Public Defender’s Office. Her most important words to live by are, “If you don’t live what you sing about, your mirror is going to find out,” taken from Ani Difranco.  She is most proud of pursuing a career as a public defender despite her six figure student loan debt. She wishes she would have become fluent in Spanish. She enjoys reading a good book on the beach.

LeAnne S. Sumner
LeAnne is from Cochran, Georgia and she attended The University of Tennessee School of Law. She currently works for the Metro Davidson County Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “Always act with compassion, integrity, and kindness.” She is most proud of attempting to live in a way that demonstrates the words she lives by. The one thing she wishes she would have done would have been to figure herself out earlier and lived more fully each day. She enjoys traveling.

Joe Thorp
Joe is from San Diego, California and he attended Georgetown University Law Center. He currently works at the Orleans Public Defender. His most important words to live by are, “You only go around once.” He is most proud of making home-made Oreos. He wishes he would have bought a motorcycle. His favorite way to spend time is by practicing piano, working out, reading, and watching most HBO series.

Jason F. Ullman
Jason is from Hampton, Virginia and he attended Tulane University Law School. He currently works at OPD. His most important words to live by are, “Be the change you want to see in the world,” taken from Gandhi. He is most proud of marrying the most amazing person in the world. He is also proud of the time when he won a moot court competition in law school that got his name etched into a huge marble slab in the largest classroom in the law school. There are two things he wishes he would have done before going to law school. First, he wishes he would have gone to a police academy before going to law school. In Norfolk, Virginia (where he went to college), the police academy department has a “no commitment” policy. After you complete the academy you can choose to walk away. If he would’ve gone to the academy he would’ve had firsthand insight into police training and tactics. This “inside” knowledge would have helped immensely in criminal defense work. Secondly, he wishes he would have been involved in investigative work before going to law school. His favorite way to spend time is with his wife Karla. He also loves running and yoga.

Emily Wallwork
Emily is from Charlotte, North Carolina and she attended the University of North Carolina Law School. She currently works in the Mecklenburg County Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “Clear eyes and full hearts, can’t lose,” taken from Friday Night Lights. She wishes she would have lived abroad and learned another language. Her favorite way to spend time is with friends, by reading, relaxing at the beach or any combination of the three.

Jacquelyn Willingham
Jackie is from Newport, Indiana and she attended Wake Forest School of Law. She currently works at the Wake County Public Defender Office. Her most important words to live by are, “Don’t do anything you would be ashamed to tell your mom.” She is most proud of her service to this country prior to attending law school. She wishes she would have learned how to speak another language. Her favorite way to spend time is by playing sports, reading, and traveling.