Title: Conflict Defender
Company: Ontario County Conflict Defender’s Office
Location: Geneva, New York, United States
Carrie W. Bleakley, Esq, conflict defender at the Ontario County Conflict Defender’s Office, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in public legal defense.
Ms. Bleakley obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 2000, and her Juris Doctor, cum laude, at Albany Law School in 2003. She began her professional career at a law firm in Rochester, New York, where she practiced from 2003 to 2005. She went on to become a private practice attorney in Ontario County, New York and a first assistant conflict defender with the Ontario County Public Defender’s Officer from 2010 to 2016. In her current role, she handles various cases for the Public Defender’s Office through mandated indigent legal representation when a conflict of interest disqualifies the Public Defender’s Office from representing a client. Moreover, she administers the Assigned Counsel Plan and manages, administers and supervises mandated indigent legal representation services that are not provided by the Public Defender.
Currently, Ms. Bleakley is advocating for significant legislative changes to policies that target marginalized defendants and hopes to eventually become a judge. She maintains professional affiliations with the New York State Defenders’ Association, the Chief Defenders’ Association of New York, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She attributes her success to her belief that that every citizen deserves a fair attorney regardless of income or social status and her role as advocate for change in a time where racial inequality and injustice is gaining mainstream recognition.
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