Department of Public Advocacy

12/05/2022

We are honoring the Richmond Trial Office for ! The Richmond Office is led by Charles Thomas and covers Clark, Jackson, and Madison Counties.

12/04/2022

The class of 2017 is our largest so far! Thank you all for your commitment and daily dedication to public defense.

Correction: Laura Fitzer is the Directing Attorney at the Cynthiana Trial Office.

12/03/2022

Our Diversity and Equity Inclusion Director Cheyla Bush sponsored four DPA attorneys for the New Attorney Swearing-In Ceremony this past Wednesday. The pandemic had prevented this in-person ceremony from being held in 2020-2022, so attorneys who passed the bar during that time were invited to be sworn-in and celebrated at the Fayette Circuit Court!

Pictured from left to right: Courtney Baker, Shelby Lamar, DEI Director Cheyla Bush, Elizabeth Roseman, and Tameisha Barner.

12/02/2022

The Unique Problems Facing Native American Youths in the Criminal Justice System

"Generations of historical trauma and increased exposure to violence make young Native Americans more vulnerable to the complicated, often contradictory clutches of the juvenile justice system, legal experts say. Once in the justice system, Native children become lost in a jurisdictional web, a dysfunctional state system and a federal system that has no proper place for them."

“There’s this whole block of Native American young people, who by accident of history, are now in federal detention. And it’s a travesty.”

12/01/2022

NACDL - Native Americans and the Criminal Justice System

November is Native American Heritage Month.
The below presentation, by the Director of the Southwest Indian Law Clinic, discusses the "diminishment of tribal authority over crime and punishment on the reservation, as well as the disparate impact of crime and punishment on Native peoples, [leading] to a rejection of counting tribal court convictions in federal sentencing.”

Presented by Professor Barbara Creel, Professor of Law and Director of the Southwest Indian Law Clinic, University of New Mexico School of Law Race Matters II: The Impact of Race on Criminal Justice January 10-11, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA;

11/26/2022

A salute to the Princeton Trial Office! The Princeton Office is led by Directing Attorney Mike Crider and covers Caldwell, Lyon, and Trigg Counties.

11/24/2022

11/12/2022

Happy Birthday, Damon! .

Damon Preston has worked as a public defender for 28 years and is Kentucky’s Public Advocate. Damon graduated from Harvard Law School and began his legal career as a public defender in New York City with the Legal Aid Society. He later returned to Kentucky to join DPA in 1997. Damon has served in many roles at DPA, some of which include working in defender offices, leading the statewide Appeals Branch, serving as General Counsel, working as Deputy Public Advocate, and finally being appointed Public Advocate in September 2017.

11/11/2022

Today we honor veterans, who have given so much to the U.S. and to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. We extend a special thanks to veterans with DPA, who work tirelessly for our clients; they are an invaluable resource in their dedication to public service.

11/11/2022

11/10/2022

For , we are recognizing the Class of 2016! Thank you for your amazing, client-centered work and for your dedication to public defense.

11/09/2022

We are celebrating the Shelbyville Trial Office today for ! The Shelbyville Office covers Shelby County and is led by Directing Attorney Jennifer Skaggs.

11/08/2022

11/06/2022

The Class of 2015 is our largest so far, with 24 members. Thank you to all these defenders and your commitment to public defense.

11/05/2022

Salute to the Lexington South Trial Office! This office is one of two that covers Fayette County and is led by Directing Attorney Whitney Kirk.

11/04/2022

11/03/2022

For , we are recognizing the Class of 2014! Thank you for all your amazing, client-centered work and for your dedication to public defense.

11/02/2022

Let’s celebrate the Lexington North Trial Office! This office is one of two that covers Fayette County and is led by Directing Attorney Valerie Church.

10/23/2022

Check Your Status - Civil Rights Restoration

If you were convicted of a non-violent felony, your right to vote and hold a political office is automatically restored when you complete your supervised release and/or your incarceration sentence. Not sure if you are eligible for restoration?
Check Your Status:
https://secure.kentucky.gov/Corrections/VoterEligibility/search
'Can You Vote?' Questionnaire:
https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/Pages/qualify.aspx
Register to Vote:
https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky

10/22/2022

DPA’s class of 2013 is celebrating their ninth year with the agency! Thank you to all these defenders and your commitment to public defense.

10/15/2022

Why Latinx People Are Uniquely Vulnerable to Wrongful Conviction

Only 395 wrongfully convicted Latinx people have been exonerated since 1989. Immigration status, language barriers, racial biases, and poverty are top contributors to these wrongful convictions. “Wrongful convictions destroy families…Often families abroad hear the news of their relative’s incarceration, but don’t know that they have been wrongfully convicted and aren’t aware of the injustices that exist in the criminal legal system."

Updated on Sept. 15, 2022: This article has been updated to reflect the most recent statistics of Latinx exonerees since 1989.

10/15/2022

LibGuides: A History of Diversity at USC Gould: Profiles of Notable Alumni: Manuel Ruiz Jr.

For this last day of Latinx and Hispanic Heritage month, we are highlighting Manuel Ruiz Jr., who was the first Hispanic lawyer to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is “the first known Latino USC Law School graduate. Widely considered to be the ‘California dean of Mexican American lawyers,’ Ruiz would hone his legal knowledge to benefit the Hispanic community and would go on to serve in the Nixon administration.”

LibGuides: A History of Diversity at USC Gould: Profiles of Notable Alumni: Manuel Ruiz Jr.

10/14/2022

A salute to the Prestonsburg Trial Office! The Prestonsburg Office is led by Directing Attorney Neil Borders and covers Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, and Martin Counties.

10/14/2022

Photos from The Kentucky Innocence Project's post

10/13/2022

Edwin Chandler - National Registry of Exonerations

Today in 2009, Edwin Chandler was exonerated from his manslaughter and robbery convictions. DPA’s KY Innocence Project was able to show that mistaken witness identification, a false confession, perjury or a false accusation, and official misconduct contributed to his convictions.

“Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Frederic Cowan, in vacating Chandler’s convictions and granting the motion to dismiss, said, ‘It is absolutely clear that there has been a grave miscarriage of justice in this case’.”

All NRE reports represent a moment in time. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. The website is updated daily, frequently with exonerations that occurred in the past.

10/12/2022

For Clients – Department of Public Advocacy

October is Client Month! Throughout the rest of the month, we will post resources for clients and spotlight our client-centered approach to representation. Our ‘For Clients’ page can be found below:

Our clients come to us for assistance in a wide variety of legal situations. We have listed below some of the most frequent reasons why you might be looking for assistance. Many of our clients are looking to contact our local office for help. If you do not find what you are looking for here,…

09/24/2022

The Kentucky Innocence Project hosted their yearly Exoneree Celebration last night! The event honored the lives of people exonerated through the help of DPA's KIP and included a panel discussion with the personal stories of the exonerees themselves.

09/23/2022

Please join KIP in our Exoneree Celebration 2022 this Friday, September 23rd!

We will also be Livestreaming the event through Facebook!

09/22/2022

DPA’s Alternative Sentencing Workers came together last week for their annual conference, this year entitled “Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges.” The sessions provided information, updates, and training for ASW’s, as well as a resource fair that allowed ASW’s to connect with treatment and recovery providers from across the state. ASW’s focus on individualized plans for clients, including fluency in all types of treatment options, because one size does not fit all. Thank you to all of our fantastic ASW’s and the organizers of this year’s conference! Alternative Sentencing Worker program-DPA

09/13/2022

Researchers: Pretrial detention plans wouldn't reduce crime

“Researchers found that under the current system, about 4 in 5 defendants who were released remained arrest-free pending trial.” A link to the full study can be found in the article.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Legislative proposals intended to make it easier to keep certain criminal defendants in jail while awaiting trial would have done little to reduce crime, according to a study by researchers at the University of New Mexico and the Santa Fe Institute.

09/12/2022

Let's celebrate our class of 2012! Ten fantastic people joined DPA that year, and we appreciate their hard work serving the people of Kentucky.

09/10/2022

A salute to the Nicholasville Trial Office! The Nicholasville Office serves clients in Garrard and Jessamine Counties and is led by Directing Attorney Stephanie Corum.

09/07/2022

Bail Reform Leads to Drop in Jail Time, Recidivism: Study

“‘We show that it’s possible to change the pretrial system and release more people in a way that benefits the general public, helps defendants, and doesn’t lead to more crime,’ Paul Heaton, academic director of the Quattrone Center, said in a statement accompanying the report.”

A groundbreaking study on bail reform in Harris County, Texas found that dropping money bail for individuals charged with nonviolent offenses produced significant declines in conviction and incarceration, as well as a 6 percent drop in recidivism.

09/05/2022

09/03/2022

We are celebrating the Newport Trial Office today! The Newport Office covers Campbell County and is led by Directing Attorney Sheena Baylon. The city of Newport is in northern Kentucky and sits right across the river from Cincinnati.

09/01/2022

Throughout September and October, Goodwill is hosting Opportunity Expos around the state. These expos will include an expungement clinic and a meet-and-greet with community partners, as well as free food, raffles, and more. The expungement clinic does require advance registration, and you can RSVP at goodwillky.org/expungements.

08/31/2022

A salute to the Madisonville Trial Office! The Madisonville Office covers Hopkins, McLean, and Muhlenberg Counties and is led by Directing Attorney James Chamberlain.

08/29/2022

State Laws Authorizing the Assessment of Public Defense System Fees | National Legal Aid & Defender Association

"To understand the extent of the use of these laws, NLADA conducted statutory research into all 50 states and the District of Columbia into two fees associated with public defense: 1) upfront application/administrative fees and 2) recoupment fees to reimburse the government cost of representation."

In the United States, individuals accused of crime who cannot afford a lawyer, and who face a possible sentence of incarceration, are entitled to have counsel appointed at government expense. Yet in most states, the right to appointed counsel does not mean free counsel. The majority of states have l...

08/27/2022

08/25/2022

Happy birthday to Heather Blackburn! Heather graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1995 and later joined DPA in 2000. She is now a Staff Attorney III with the Owensboro Trial Office.