Case, Staff, Client, Community & Intern News!
Case News:
Non-Custodial Sentence!
Federal Defender Colin Fieman, Seattle AFD Mukund Rathi, Tacoma paralegal Carolynn Cohn, Tacoma investigator Stacey Brownstein, legal intern Thaddeus Gannon, and former legal intern Johan Christensen, helped a client receive a non-custodial sentence after she was convicted of two counts of fraud, and acquitted on a third count, by a jury in January. At the sentencing hearing in July, the judge emphasized the client’s traumatic background and the unusual nature of case, which involved the fraudulent transfer of funds from a state agency to a nonprofit, but none of which went to the client. In fact, the jury acquitted the client on the only count that alleged they took money for themselves. The client will serve six months on home confinement as part of a five year term of probation.
Legal intern Brianna Terrell advocated for her client who was sentence to time-served for an unlawful reentry case. The government sought additional custodial time. It was Bri's first time arguing in court and Judge Coughenour complimented her on her "allocution"! Bri has two hearings next week on supervised release violations that she is also looking forward to. Go Bri!
Staff News:
We Welcomed Two New AFPDs in July!
Lindsay McCaslin joined our Tacoma office! Lindsay was an AFPD in Norfolk, Virginia (infamous for its “rocket docket”) since 2017, after interning at the Bronx Defenders, graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, and serving as a public defender in the Virginia state system. Lindsay’s colleagues describe her, among many accolades, as “a true believer,” “strong, confident and grounded,” “a compassionate team player,” “a great ally,” and a mentor to new colleagues. We are thrilled to welcome Lindsay to our office!
Lindsay also had the opportunity to be sworn into the Washington State bar by Judge Joseph Evans of the Pierce County Superior Court.
Jorge Leonardo “Leo” Costales joined our Seattle office! Leo was an AFPD in Tucson, Arizona, where he has practiced since 2017 after graduating from Vanderbilt Law School and serving as a state public defender in Lafayette, Louisiana. His colleagues describe him as the “go-to” person in their office, “thoughtful and caring,” and “hated by prosecutors in the best possible way” for his advocacy and tenacity. Leo is fluent in Spanish, learning French, and a competitive chess player. We are elated to have you working with us, Leo!
Federal Defender Colin Fieman hosted a group of six South Korean attorneys and students as part of the Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program. The Program’s goal is “to create a society where everyone can live comfortably” and the group was visiting Seattle to study and share policies to reduce social disparities and eliminate barriers to civic engagement. Among other topics, Mr. Fieman and the group discussed the American and Korean legal systems, access to justice issues, and how to facilitate future exchanges between our countries.
We are Hiring!
Please visit our employment page to see our opening for an Administrative Officer!
Client News
Congrats to our former client and DREAM graduate RH who successfully applied for and was approved for her very own apartment! RH has been successfully employed since being released from custody and is now in her new home. We continue to wish her all the best and continue to applaud all her achievements!
Community News:
Social Workers Amanda Merfeld and Kelly Trujillo attended the 2024 Community Partnership for Transition Solutions (CPTS) Summer Institute which sought to discuss, collaborate, partner, and strategize around one of the most pressing issues in our communities—support for individuals and their families experiencing reentry and recovery across Washington State. Speakers included Tyron Nixon, Medicaid Reentry Transformation Implementation Manager for the WA Health Care Authority who leads the Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver which provides reentry services for individuals leaving a prison, jail, or youth correctional facility. David L. Brady, Vice President of National Business for C-Tech, presented on reentry certification programs proven to reduce recidivism. Ana Johnson, Supervisory US Probation Officer, led a reentry simulation exercise to demonstrate barriers faced by individuals reintegrating into a community. Members of the Statewide Reentry Council discussed the Council’s work toward fostering effective relationships with interested parties, influencing how resources are directed through conversations with legislators, raising awareness of jail reentry numbers, and embarking on becoming a Reentry 2023 state. Breakout sessions included Washington’s Managed Care Organizations Carceral Transitions Program; advocating for youth faced with cumulative destabilizing experiences which intersects with the criminal system. The Foundation of Youth Resiliency and Engagement (FYRE) utilizes harm reduction and care to meet youth needs; community health centers as a vital stop on the road to a thriving life; disruptive innovations to reduce recidivism by using appropriate metrics and formulas; and the critical role of peer mentors presented by members of Thriving Together NW, Advance NW, Community for the Advancement of Family Education, Renew, and the Women’s Resource Center. We are excited to maintain and create dynamic relationships within our statewide communities to ensure our clients have access to these critical services, especially as they prepare to return to the community.
Seattle AFD Leo Costales and legal interns Bri Terrell and Thaddeus Gannon were victorious this week in Pub 70 trivia. Taking home first place in trivia and winning the team name game with “Objection! Asked and Answered.”
Intern News
Legal Intern Supervisor Vicki Lai and Seattle AFD Annie Wagner brought our intern group to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to watch the morning calendar. Afterward, they were all able to meet Judge Eric D. Miller and his law clerks.
Intern Updates:
Jemmie Kamau, who interned with us in the Fall of 2021 and was a Gates scholar at University of Washington, School of Law, has accepted a job offer as an attorney at Northwest Immigration Rights Project in the removal defense unit. We are excited to follow Jemmie’s public interest career!
Cristina Rico Rodriguez, who interned with us as a Gates scholar at University of Washington, School of Law has also accepted a full-time staff attorney position at Northwest Immigration Rights Project and is working in the unaccompanied minors unit. We are equally excited to follow Cristina’s public interest career as well!
