The Richmond Public Defender’s Office is the largest in the state of Virginia. We are appointed by the Court to represent people who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer. Attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, paralegals and legal assistants all work together as a team to provide zealous, client centered representation to our clients. We are a community of committed, inspired lawyers who litigate aggressively and advocate for our clients at every opportunity. We understand the importance of giving our clients respect and compassion during the most trying time of their lives. We believe that every person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. We are a partner office with Gideon’s Promise, working to bring together different areas of expertise to find creative solutions and defenses for our clients. Whether a client decides to fight their case or seek an alternative resolution, our team stands behind them, making sure their stories are heard.
An arrest and criminal charge alone can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, forcing them to suffer dramatic consequences as a result of their arrest alone. This collateral damage, and the instability that results, can be far more devastating than any of the direct penalties that accompany the criminal conviction. We understand and address the struggles that lead to justice involvement. We do more than ask about the circumstance of our clients’ cases — we spend time getting to know our clients as individuals. Our attorneys and mitigation specialists learn about the challenges that clients face and help them tackle the issues that stand in the way of the futures they seek.
The Richmond Public Defender’s Office is the largest in the state of Virginia. We are appointed by the Court to represent people who cannot afford to hire their own lawyer. Attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, paralegals and legal assistants all work together as a team to provide zealous, client centered representation to our clients. We are a community of committed, inspired lawyers who litigate aggressively and advocate for our clients at every opportunity. We understand the importance of giving our clients respect and compassion during the most trying time of their lives. We believe that every person is more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. We are a partner office with Gideon’s Promise, working to bring together different areas of expertise to find creative solutions and defenses for our clients. Whether a client decides to fight their case or seek an alternative resolution, our team stands behind them, making sure their stories are heard.
An arrest and criminal charge alone can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, forcing them to suffer dramatic consequences as a result of their arrest alone. This collateral damage, and the instability that results, can be far more devastating than any of the direct penalties that accompany the criminal conviction. We understand and address the struggles that lead to justice involvement. We do more than ask about the circumstance of our clients’ cases — we spend time getting to know our clients as individuals. Our attorneys and mitigation specialists learn about the challenges that clients face and help them tackle the issues that stand in the way of the futures they seek.
Public defender offices provide legal services for indigent defendants charged with criminal offenses. Attorneys are responsible for trying cases in General district, Juvenile, and Circuit Courts for their respective locality. Cases may be handled at the trial and/or appellate level.
Tracy Paner graduated from Mary Washington College, where she studied economics and political science. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University Of Richmond, where she graduated in 1991. Immediately following graduation, Tracy joined the Richmond Public Defender's Office. as an assistant public defender and the 11th attorney in the office. In 2006, Tracy was promoted to be the Chief Deputy Public Defender, placing her as the second-in-command of the Richmond Public Defender's Office and giving her the opportunity to increase her role in the management of the office. In 2016, it was Tracy's great personal and professional honor to be appointed by the Indigent Defence Commission to be the Chief Public Defender in the office. Throughout her time as a public defender, Tracy has had the benefit of practicing in every Court in the City of Richmond that handles criminal cases and has served in every position in the office, from new hire to the head of the office. This has given Tracy the ability to see and analyze the office from a myriad of perspectives. She is a member of the Virginia Criminal Bar Association, Richmond Criminal Bar, and the National Association of Public Defenders (NAPD). The office is a Gideon's Promise partner office.
Tracy lives in Henrico, along with her wonderful husband of 22 years, Karl, their three daughters, and with many dogs and cats. Tracy is passionate about family, fairness, and fighting for her clients. In her free time Tracy likes to hike, garden, knit and foster kittens for the SPCA.
Annalisa Feinman is a West Virginia native and has lived in Richmond since 2014. She is a graduate of Elon University and Washington & Lee University School of Law, where she defended individuals through the W&L Criminal Justice Clinic. Annalisa has represented clients across Virginia, both as a public defender and in private practice. In addition to her experience, Annalisa works to bring enthusiasm and understanding to each case. When she’s not in court, Annalisa can be found enjoying the scenery (and especially the restaurants) around Richmond with her family.
Ashley Shapiro is a Deputy Public Defender in the Richmond City Public Defender’s Office. Ashley previously served as a public defender in Fairfax, Virginia and St. Mary's County, Maryland. During her time as a public defender, she has litigated dozens of jury trials, countless motions and represented both children and adults. Ashley previously worked as the Immigration Resource Attorney for the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, conducting training for all public defenders in Virginia regarding the immigration consequences of criminal convictions, and case-specific consultations.
In her spare time, Ashley serves as the Legislative Director for Justice Forward Virginia, a criminal justice reform non-profit. Justice Forward advocates in the Virginia General Assembly for criminal justice reform, striving to make the criminal system more fair and just. Justice Forward has helped change a number of laws that contributed to systemic racism and mass incarceration.
Ashley is also a member of the national Racial Justice Initiative through the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, currently creating a holistic justice collaborative with the Legal Aid Justice Center and other Richmond advocates.
Ashley graduated With Honors from The George Washington University Law School. At GWU, she was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar, earned a Pro Bono Service Certificate, and was awarded a Shapiro Public Service Scholarship. Immediately upon graduation, Ashley clerked for the Maryland Court of Appeals. Prior to law school, Ashley graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Diego State University.
I graduated from Roanoke College in 2017 and I graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in May 2020. I have been licensed to practice law in Virginia since Oct. 2020. I love being a Public Defender because I enjoy working hard for my clients and their families in a criminal legal system that forgets humanity. When I am not working, I love spending time with my husband and two dogs.
Gianna Fienberg is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law, where they received The Nina R. Kestin Service Award and served as the Executive Editor for the Richmond Public Interest Law Review. They began their career in the Fredericksburg Office of the Public Defender before joining the Richmond office in 2021.
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Brianna Mashel is originally from New Jersey and received her J.D. from William & Mary Law School, where she interned with the Federal Public Defender's Office in Norfolk, Suffolk Public Defender's Office, and Newport News Public Defender's Office. Prior to law school, she attended the University of Maryland where she received degrees in both History and Government & Politics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and exploring the outdoors.
Samantha Dardick Mier is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law where she received the Orell-Brown Award for Clinical Excellence in Children’s Defense. Samantha graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, with a B.A. in History and the University of California, Berkeley, with a Master’s in Public Policy. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys playing tennis and spending time with her family and two unruly dogs.
Zack is a Senior Assistant Public Defender with the Richmond Public Defender Office. He's originally from West Virginia, but moved to Virginia to attend law school at William & Mary, and has lived in Richmond for the last six years. He has tried multiple felony and misdemeanor cases to juries, and represented hundreds of clients in the juvenile and domestic relations court, general district court, and circuit court. Outside of work, Zack enjoys spending time with his fiancée and their puppy, playing board and card games, and grilling in the backyard.
I am Deputy Public Defender in the Richmond Office. I am originally from Canada, where I completed my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering. I graduated from Vermont law School. I teach as an adjunct in VCU's forensic science department. In my spare time I like to cook and play basketcall and touch football.
Meredith Shaw received her J.D. from Charleston School of Law, where she interned with the Capital Trial Division of the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense. Before law school, she attended East Carolina University where she received degrees in both Psychology and Political Science. She also earned her Paralegal Certificate from Duke University.
Julia graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2011 and joined the Richmond Public Defender's Office in February of 2012. Since then, she has handled thousands of cases ranging from trespass to murder. In her role as a senior public defender, Julia also manages a courtroom and provides supervision and guidance to newer attorneys in the office. Julia's favorite part of her job is her clients, but jury trials are a close second.
Alanna Trivelli was born in Colorado and graduated from the University of Richmond School of Law after obtaining her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma City University. Prior to becoming an Assistant Public Defender, Alanna clerked for a Chesterfield County Circuit Court Judge. Since her time in the Richmond Public Defender's Office, Alanna has handled many case, including numerous jury trials on serious felony charges. She has litigated issues in cases ranging from driving charges to first degree murder. Alanna has tried cases in every courtroom in the City. She is certified in juvenile defense and has assisted with multiple specialty dockets, including the Juvenile Behavioral Health Docket. She prides herself on being a zealous advocate for her clients and defending the constitution on a daily basis.
Erin joined the office in October 2019. She earned her law degree from the University of Virginia in 2012 and spent the first three years of her legal practice in Chicago, first as Clinical Fellow at Northwestern's Center for Wrongful Convictions and then as a Litigation Associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. In 2016, she moved back to her home state of Virginia where she served as a law clerk for a federal district judge in Norfolk for three years. During that time, she developed a passion for criminal justice reform and decided to become a public defender. She loves helping her clients, working with her talented colleagues, and litigating constitutional violations in court. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking with her husband, Brett, and playing with her Vizsla pup named Duck.
Madison is originally from Blacksburg, VA and obtained her B.S. in Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University and her J.D. at the University of Richmond School of Law. As a law student, she had multiple internship opportunities in the Richmond Public Defenders Office and transitioned to working as an attorney for the office after graduation. She has experience representing adult and juvenile clients in a wide variety of criminal cases. Having spent nearly a decade in Richmond, she enjoys all things RVA, including spending time on the river, hiking the North Bank and Buttermilk trails, and eating at as many restaurants as Richmond has to offer.
Liddy Gallagher is an Assistant Public Defender. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Richmond School of Law. She currently serves as one of the Internship Coordinators for the Public Defender's Office. In her free time she likes to run half marathons, read, and spend time with her husband and their dog and cat, Lilo and Stitch.
Chase Gunter is an Assistant Public Defender. Originally from Richmond, he attended the University of Virginia for undergrad and law school. While in law school, he was a member of the Program in Law and Public Service and participated in the Innocence Project Clinic, the Federal Sentence Reduction Clinic, and the Criminal Defense Clinic. Before joining the Richmond Public Defender's Office, he interned with the MacArthur Justice Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; the ACLU Capital Punishment Project in Durham, North Carolina; and the Brooklyn Defender Services in Brooklyn, New York.
Daniel Lange is an Assistant Public Defender I. He received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science and English from Florida State University and his J.D. from University of Richmond. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and hound dog Tycho.
Pete is an Assistant Public Defender II. Pete graduated from Roanoke College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and went on to graduate from the University of Richmond School of Law. Prior to joining the Richmond office, he served as an assistant public defender in both Chesterfield and Alexandria. Pete started his legal career as a law clerk for the 23rd Judicial Circuit based in Roanoke. While originally from Kentucky, Pete has called Virginia home for many years. When not zealously advocating for his clients Pete can be found somewhere in Western Europe or watching the Lord of the Rings (extended edition of course).
Ashley Lewis Jones is a Supervising Senior Public Defender. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia. She obtained her juris doctorate from Harvard Law School and her masters of law from Georgetown University Law Center. Before joining the Richmond Office of the Public Defender, she was an E. Barrett Prettyman Fellow at Georgetown, clerked on the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and interned at the Southern Center for Human Rights and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Ashley decided to become a public defender after being a paralegal at Neufeld Scheck & Brustin, LLP working on the civil cases of men wrongfully convicted of crimes.
Rebecca Pensak is a Supervising Senior Public Defender. She received her Bachelor of English Literature from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and her Juris Doctorate from the College of William & Mary Law School. She's previously served as the Mental Health Docket specialist and the Internship Coordinator for the Public Defender Office. In her spare time she enjoys exploring Richmond's amazing urban forests and public libraries.
Sarah Midkiff is an Assistant Public Defender. She received her Bachelor of Anthropology from James Madison University and her Juris Doctor from the Northeastern University School of Law. In her spare time she enjoys playing volleyball and spending time with her family.
Elena (Ellie) joined the Richmond team in 2025 from the Petersburg Public Defender's Office, where she began her legal career. Originally from Harrisonburg, VA, Elena received a J.D. from William & Mary Law School and a B.A. in International Relations from Brown University. When she is not at work, Elena can usually be found outdoors -- she enjoys rock climbing, trail running, hiking, skiing, biking, and exploring Richmond's many parks.
Brian Warren is an Assistant Public Defender. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and his Juris Doctorate from Washington and Lee School of Law. He previously clerked on the Virginia Court of Appeals for the Honorable Lisa M. Lorish. In his spare time, he enjoys dancing and watching horror movies.
Adam Howard is a graduate of Richmond School of Law and a native of Virginia. He chose a career in public defense because of his work before law school with cross-border immigration advocacy and his work with the disabled communities through his younger sister who has Rett Syndrome. Adam is a fluent Spanish speaker and is passionate about access to justice for Spanish speaking communities. Adam spends time making music, biking and playing with his cat Miso.
Mitigation Specialists identify and address the collateral issues contributing to system interaction by connecting clients to community and social services, treatment programs, education and job training, housing and more.
They also work closely with the defense team to recommend alternatives to incarceration, develop mitigation evidence, as well as advocate for client safety and medical attention while in jail, language access, re-entry planning, and eligibility for specialty courts. They work to offer comprehensive solutions to the social, psychological and human needs of our clients to reduce recidivism and increase the health and safety of our clients and community. Client advocacy is central to all we do.
Megan DuBerg is a Mitigation Specialist in the Richmond Public Defender’s Office. She is originally from the Metro Detroit area. She received her Bachelor of Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, her post-graduate Paralegal Certificate from Oakland University in Auburn Hills, Michigan and received her Master’s in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Megan enjoys meeting with clients to help tell their story and advocate for them as much as possible. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, reading and staying active.
Erykah Michael is a mitigation specialist. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Arts in Forensic and Legal Psychology from Marymount University. In her spare time she enjoys exploring local coffee shops in Richmond.
Our highly-skilled investigators work to put together the story of each individual case in order to provide the best possible defense. Investigators search for, collect and preserve evidence, locate and interview witnesses, and work alongside the attorneys throughout the duration of the case. They are a critical part of our work
Haley is originally from Tennessee and has resided in the Richmond area since 2019. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology and minor in psychology from Tennessee Tech University. She continued her education and completed her master’s degree in criminal justice at the University of Central Florida. Haley has worked as an investigator in indigent defense for almost 6 years and serves as supervisor to the investigative team. She has worked on numerous high profile felony cases within the city of Richmond and Chesterfield. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to different countries, attending concerts, and spending time with her loved ones.
I have a diverse background with degrees in Criminology/Human Services and Cyber Crime. My experience as a Victim's Advocate, Private Investigator, and Digital Forensic Junior Analyst has provided me with the skills necessary to perform objective and compassionate investigations. Outside of work, I have too many hobbies that include home projects, writing, playing music, and being outdoors with my dog!
Makinna Dykes holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice: Forensic Investigations from Washburn University. Makinna also holds associates degrees in forensic anthropology and intelligence operations from Washburn University and Cochise College. In college Makinna was an intern with the U.S. Marshals service and took part in operations in the courtroom and on the field. In the Army, Makinna served as a strategic debriefer at ARNORTH and later became an analyst with the National Ground Intelligence Center. Makinna has a desire to learn everywhere she goes and strives for tenacity and efficiency in her investigative work.