"If the motto 'and justice for all' becomes 'and justice for those who can afford it', we threaten the very underpinnings of our social contract."

Chief Justice Ronald George California Supreme Court, Annual "State Judiciary" Speech, 2001

Meet our Staff

Leigh M. Skipper Chief Federal Defender

Rebecca A. Blaskey First Assistant Federal Defender

Joesph Miller Deputy Federal Defender

Teresa Rauscher Administrative Officer

Felicia Sarner Supervisory Assistant Federal Defender, Trial Unit

  • Catherine Henry Senior Litigator
  • Mark Wilson Senior Trial Counsel
  • Nina Carpiniello Spizer Assistant Federal Defender
  • Dina Chavar Assistant Federal Defender
  • Benjamin Cooper Assistant Federal Defender
  • Tracy Frederick Assistant Federal Defender
  • David Kozlow Assistant Federal Defender
  • Susan Lin Assistant Federal Defender
  • James McHugh Assistant Federal Defender
  • Maranna Meehan Assistant Federal Defender
  • Stuart Patchen Assistant Federal Defender
  • Kai Scott Assistant Federal Defender
  • Rossman Thompson Assistant Federal Defender
  • Elizabeth Toplin Assistant Federal Defender
  • David McColgin Supervisory Assistant Federal Defender, Appeals Unit

  • Robert Epstein Assistant Federal Defender
  • Sarah Gannett Assistant Federal Defender
  • Brett Sweitzer Assistant Federal Defender
  • Michael Wiseman Chief Supervisory Assistant Federal Defender, Capital Habeas Unit