Case, Staff, CJA, Community, & PATHWAY News

 

Case News

Last year, our elderly client was released to pretrial supervision after being charged with a felony drug charge carrying a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence. He had suffered severe injuries from the police K-9 during his arrest, complicating other significant health conditions. The Tacoma defense team, comprised of Paralegal Carolynn Cohn, Investigator Mike Stortini, and Assistant Federal Defender Elizabeth Sher, worked closely with our client and experts over the last nine months to have him evaluated while he simultaneously engaged in substance use and mental health treatment services. At sentencing, both the government and Probation asked the Court to impose a prison sentence, and the guideline range was 108-135 months. The defense team presented thorough mitigation for the Court highlighting the Bureau of Prisons’ significant failures to provide adequate health care for incarcerated individuals, our client’s complex physical and mental health needs, and the significant strides our client had made in the community since his release. Judge Settle imposed a sentence of credit for time served (with six months of home detention) that will allow our client to continue his rehabilitation in the community with the support of his family.

                                    

Our client won asylum in immigration court, but ICE refused to release him. With the assistance of our office, he filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, leading to a court order for his immediate release.

                                    

ICE arrested our client, a Venezuelan citizen, even though she had temporary protected status. ICE then moved her across the country and tried to expedite her deportation hearing. We obtained an order for her immediate release, permitting her to continue proceedings before an immigration judge near her home in Florida. 

                                    

An immigration judge ordered our client deported to Russia. Then, for more than eight months, ICE kept our client in a detention center without even contacting Russia about their return. The immigration habeas team obtained an order compelling our client's release from immigration custody.

                                    

ICE refused to release our client, who had been ordered deported to Ukraine even though Ukraine refused to accept him. Our office obtained a writ of habeas corpus providing for our client's release from detention until the government showed a likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future.

                                    

Although our client had lived in the community for years on an order of supervision, ICE rearrested him without cause or explanation. The Court granted our request for a writ of habeas corpus, concluding that re-arrest violated due process.

                                    

Our client with mental illness obtained a court order requiring his release from immigration detention.

Staff News

Corey Endo is our Interim Defender, and Dennis Carroll is our First Assistant!

Corey joined the office in 2005 as a Research & Writing Attorney, having pinky promised then-Defender Tom Hillier that she would stay at least one year (or two?). Corey then worked as an Assistant Federal Defender and, for the last four years, as the First Assistant. She is excited to take on this new role and to continue to work to make sure that our clients are exceptionally well served.

                                    

Dennis joined the office in 2008 after serving with The Defender Association and the Washington Appellate Project. He has been the Senior Litigator in our office since March 2022. Dennis has been a leader on many major initiatives for the office and scores of clients, including two rounds of retroactive guideline projects, First Step Act reduction cases, Blake reviews, and compassionate release motions. He has served on a variety of committees, including the Local Rules Committee, the Reentry Committee, and the scintillating Exhibit Retention Committee. He is currently the SRC Liaison for this district.

                                    

 

Welcome our new Clerical Assistant, Frankie Aguilh!

 

CJA News

 

Beloved and respected CJA panel member Tom Coe died tragically, and also doing what he loved. He leaves behind his bereaved family, including his wife and two sons, friends and colleagues, and clients who will miss his remarkable advocacy and compassion. A memorial is planned for May 17 from 1-3 at the Bainbridge Island Rowing Club, within walking distance from the ferry terminal. All are welcome.

 

Community News

Seattle AFD Colleen Fitzharris presented at the Washington Defender Association 2026 Defender Conference at Sun Mountain. Colleen’s session, “Separate Sovereigns: Representing Clients with Cases that Overlap in State and Federal Courts,” gave state public defenders an overview of federal sentencing, jurisdiction, and process and provided local public defenders with important considerations to think about when representing clients with existing or potential federal cases. She also encouraged state PDs to call our office with any questions. Tacoma AFD and WDA board member Heather Carroll also attended the conference. The weather and scenery were beautiful, and it was a great opportunity to catch up and connect with our state colleagues.

 

PATHWAY News

On Tuesday, April 7, PATHWAY graduated their very first participant, BS, to the third and final phase of the program. This comprehensive pre-adjudication diversionary court program blends treatment, incentives, and sanction alternatives to effectively address participants’ behavior, quality of life, long-term wellness stability, incarceration costs, and the safety of the community. Phase I, the Root phase, focuses on establishing stability and planting the roots for recovery and success. This phase focuses on initial assessment, treatment engagement, and compliance with PATHWAY. Phase II, the Growth phase, symbolizes personal growth, accountability, and skill-building. Participants actively engage in therapy, job training, or education while demonstrating responsibility.

BS successfully completed his goals and treatment engagement during the first two phases of PATHWAY. Phase III, the Canopy phase, reflects thriving, reintegration, and long-term success. In this phase, BS will continue to gain independence, build self-confidence, and strengthen his ability to support himself throughout and following completion of PATHWAY.

We have learned so much through our work with BS and are so proud of his hard work and progress towards the goals he has set for himself.

More information about this specialized therapeutic court is found here.