NAPD 2024 Women's Virtual Conference

Revised and updated for 2024: We will discuss the trauma and stress public defender teams face, and their impact on us -  especially amidst local and political forces hostile to and undermining of our mission statements. We will also discuss various coping techniques for our well-being toolkit so that we might thrive, not just survive in this job; from the perspective of a 30-year public defender who still loves coming to work every day.

An important part of bringing about system change for our clients is to advocate in the Legislature and with the Governor's office. One way to do this is to have legislative committees within your PD office, meeting with Legislators, testify about relevant pending legislation, and develop draft legislation. As a woman, this can be intimidating as the legislature is still male-dominated and prosecutor-dominated. But, it is invigorating. I want to use my experience and SADO's experience in legislative advocacy to encourage women to use their voices in this way.