Monica assumed leadership of the Indiana Federal Community Defender’s Office in 2012 following a distinguished career in private practice as a nationally renowned death penalty defense lawyer. Monica has argued in state and federal courts throughout the country, including the United States Supreme Court and remains a sought after national lecturer and consultant on high profile death penalty cases throughout the country. Prior to joining IFCD, Monica succeeded in achieving reversals of death sentences, as well as, sentences less than death in innumerable capitally charged homicide cases.
At the IFCD Monica’s struggle against the death penalty continues. Notably in 2019, over a six week period, Monica was part of teams that achieved overturning a death sentence out of a Texas Federal Court and the deauthorization of the death penalty in the Southern District of Indiana. When not focused on death penalty litigation and administration of the IFCD office, Monica focuses her criminal practice on cases involving complex mental health issues.
Since her arrival in 2012, Monica has grown the IFCD office, believing that resources for defendants should mirror those provided to the prosecution. The office has nearly tripled in size and added a Capital § 2255 unit, the first of its kind in the nation. Monica also created the sentencing mitigation resource team, focused on research and investigation into each client’s unique background and history to achieve the best possible result for each individual person.
Always an advocate for the underdog she is a relentless rescuer of small dogs and an ardent member of the Bills Mafia (#GoBills). And in an effort to bring peace to the Middle East one young Arab boy at a time, she and her husband hosted foreign exchange students from the Middle East for ten years. When not working, Monica enjoys cooking, travelling, and reading.