A nationally requested expert and lecturer, Monica assumed the leadership of the Indiana Federal Community Defender’s office in 2012. Monica joins the Federal Defender Network following a distinguished career in private practice, providing representation to indigent persons charged with the death penalty, both at trial and on appeal. Monica has argued in state and federal courts throughout the country, including the United States Supreme Court. In private practice, Monica represented the government of Mexico when their nationals were charged with capital or potentially capital crimes in the United States. Monica’s commitment to public service stretches back to her work during law school with the Indiana Public Defender’s Council. Since that time, she has remained dedicated to service of the indigent, a drive that has led her to her new home with the Indiana Federal Community Defender’s office.
When she is not at the office, she is a relentless rescuer of small dogs. And in an effort to bring peace to the Middle East one young Arab boy at a time, she and her husband have hosted foreign exchange students from the Middle East for the past eight years.
Education:
J.D., Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, 1983
B.A., criminal justice and economics, State University of New York College at Buffalo, 1979
Hometown City/State:
Buffalo, New York
Civic Activities:
State Board of Law Examiners, Character and Fitness Interviewer, 2005-present
Indianapolis Bar Association, Women and the Law Division, Mentor
Indiana Public Defender Commission, Board Member, 1989-2007
Indiana Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Board Member, 1987-1995
Marion County Public Defender Agency, Board Member & Vice Chairperson, 1993-2003
Task Force on the Death Penalty; Association of Retarded Citizens of Indiana, 1993-1994
Task Force on Juveniles and the Death Penalty
ReadUp Volunteer
Host to foreign exchange students from the Middle East
Super Bowl Host Committee Volunteer
Honors and Awards:
Antoinette Daiken Leach Award, 2009
Gideon Award, Indiana Public Defender Council, 2004
Sigmund Beck Award; Indiana Civil Liberties Union, 1999
Indiana Top 25 Female Lawyers, 2005
Indiana Super Lawyer, 2004-2006 and 2010-2012
For more on Monica, see:
http://www.superlawyers.com/indiana/article/Death-Row-Defender/320b91bf-fed8-46f1-aba5-0bba74c1cd57.html