The Criminal and Civil Justice Institute (CCJI) at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in partnership with Gideon’s Promise and the Barristers Society recently hosted a panel addressing a critical question: Can young public defenders and prosecutors change the criminal legal system, or will the system change them first?
The discussion, titled Resisting Ordinary Injustice: Can Young Public Defenders and Prosecutors Change the System or Will the System Change Them?, featured experienced practitioners who have navigated the tension between professional duty and personal conviction. Their message to law students and early-career attorneys was direct: the work is demanding and the stakes are high, but meaningful change is possible for those who remain grounded in purpose.
Professor Jonathan Rapping, Faculty Director of the Criminal and Civil Justice Institute at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, served as the moderator for the panel.
Panelists for the event included:
- Deborah Gonzalez, former District Attorney for Georgia’s Western Judicial Circuit
- Jared T. Williams, District Attorney for the Augusta Judicial Circuit in Georgia
- Aisha McWeay, Director of Legal Services for the Harris County Public Defender’s Office in Houston, Texas
The panel brought together professionals from prosecution, public defense, and legal education to engage with law students and young lawyers interested in careers in public service and criminal justice. We are grateful to all participants for sharing their time and perspectives, and for their continued dedication to justice and public service.
