by David HarveyCongratulations to Thomas Ewing (Felony Trial Counsel) on not one, but three wins!
This was nice work by an attorney who did the necessary preparation and, as a result, understood the weaknesses in the State’s cases. He used that knowledge, along with his experience, to get great results for all three clients.
by David HarveyEMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:
Alex Barengo went the extra mile to assure his client was able to get the help they needed! Thank you Alex for going above and beyond for your clients and your client centered representation!
by David HarveyOUTSTANDING RESULTS:
Sharonda Hunter (first chair) and Maggie Stork (second chair) secured a Rule 29 win last week in Municipal Court! Congratulations and great work!
by David HarveyOUTSTANDING RESULTS:
Congratulations to Jessica Moss (Youth Appellate Attorney) and Nancy Cutler (Youth Trial Attorney) on their huge win in the Ohio Supreme Court!
by David HarveyCongratulations to Ryan Ragland for a multitude of outstanding accomplishments!
In addition to her leadership at the Public Defender’s Office, Ryan is a community leader that constantly strives to better the lives of our clients. Ryan has taken on a lot of additional hard work and has deservedly received recognition!
Ryan recently received a Judicial appointment to the River City Facilities Governing Board.
Cornell University
Ryan also recently completed Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion certificate program. The course emphasized that all leaders have the responsibility for building culture within an organization. There were four primary topics covered: Improving Engagement, Counteracting Unconscious Bias, Diversity and Inclusion at Work, and Fostering an Inclusive Climate.
Black Defender Leadership Institute
While enrolled in her Cornell studies, Ryan learned that she had been accepted into the Black Defender Leadership Institute that was developed by the Black Public Defender Association.
BPDA developed the Black Defender Leadership Institute (BDLI) to train emerging Black leaders and support them in becoming the next generation of leaders in public defense who are equipped to dismantle systems of racialized oppression. BDLI was designed to encourage participants to see themselves as part of the movement and to seek leadership positions at their organizations whenever available.
BDLI is the first of its kind in the country. It provides specialized leadership training for Black defenders along with professional support tailored to the unique lived experiences of balancing their professional development in an overwhelmingly white profession while helping their fellow Black brethren navigate through traumatic systems of oppression and harm. BDLI is unique in its mission to offer continuous personalized support to Black emerging leaders as they reach new benchmarks, assume new positions, and achieve career goals.
2022 Federal Bar Association PLEDGE Emerging Leader Honoree
Ryan was one of thirteen emerging women lawyers recognized by the Federal Bar Association earlier this year. Ryan was selected because of her notable legal experience, exceptional legal talent and skill, exemplary legal standards and professionalism, and her commitment and dedication to both her workplace and community.
Congratulations!
Kathryn A. Ancona
Deputy Director
Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender
by David HarveyOur Appellate Division had three successful appeals decided last week!
Congratulations to Lora Peters, Sarah Nelson, and Krista Gieske, great work!
by David HarveyRobert E. Shepherd Jr. Leadership Award for Excellence in Youth Defense by The Gault Center
Congratulations to Angela Chang, our Youth Defense Division Director! Ms. Chang has been awarded a Robert E. Shepherd Jr. Leadership Award for Excellence in Youth Defense by The Gault Center. She was nominated for this award by the Gault Center’s National Advisory Board. This Board wrote, in part:
“Some of her most impactful work has been done in recent years, where she’s been instrumental in ensuring a legacy of zealous advocacy and support for system-involved youth in Cincinnati. Over the past few years, Angela wrote and won several grants from OJJDP, securing grant funding for her office to employ full time social workers and bring a holistic defense model to Ohio. This made Cincinnati one of the first jurisdictions in Ohio to house such a program in their youth defender office.
The Executive Director of the Gault Center, also had this to say about Ms. Chang: Above all else, you’ve been described as “compassionate” and that “she leaves every place she goes better than she found it, including the youth legal system.”
Thank you for all that you do for the Youth Defense Community, the children you represent, and embodying visionary leadership in youth defense.
Congratulations Angela Chang and thank you again for everything that you do!
Kathryn A. Ancona
Deputy Director
Law Office of the Hamilton County Public Defender
by David HarveyEmployee Spotlight – Kyesha Dotson
Congratulations to Kyesha Dotson! She has achieved some major accomplishments since joining our Youth Defense Division (formerly, the Juvenile Delinquency Division).
In December of 2021, she became an officially licensed social worker after passing the exam!
More recently, Ms. Dotson was accepted by the University of Kentucky College of Social Work into their Masters Program. She will begin taking classes this Fall.
Ms. Dotson first joined our office as an intern under a Federal Grant for Holistic Defense while attending the University of Cincinnati. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work Degree, ‘Summa Cum Laude’, or ‘with the highest distinction’.
It is an honor and privilege to have Ms. Dotson in our office.
Congratulations!
by David HarveyCongratulations to Lauren Dynes and Darceny Winston for their jury trial win!
Congratulations to Lauren Dynes and Darceny Winston for their jury trial win last Friday (July 8th) on behalf of DH on an OVI charge. For the record, this was our office’s seventh jury trial win since May 5, 2022.
Lauren did a nice job explaining the case and giving credit to Darceny, sitting second chair for the first time. In fact, Darceny did a lot of work and a great job! So did Lauren!
by David HarveyCongratulations to Ben Ranz on his Jury Trial Win! Great work Ben on a difficult case!
Ben got his first ever jury trial win late last month on an assault charge in Municipal Court. His client walked out of the Justice Center, a free man after 35 days, waiting to go to trial.
There was an altercation between Ben’s client and an “off and on again” girlfriend. Arguing self-defense, Ben showed that while she had a lump on her forehead, his client had bloody bite marks on both of his forearms, his chest and his shin. The jury confirmed that Ben’s client was much more credible than the girlfriend and that him testifying made all the difference to them.
Ben noted that this win was a team effort since he had invaluable help from Maggie Stork, who sat second chair.
Raymond T. Faller
Hamilton County Public Defender