The SLS Criminal Defense Clinicconceived and organized STANDUP to provide public defenders a rare opportunity to put aside their heavy caseloads for a few days and immerse themselves in a mini clinic-like experience, said Clinical Supervising Attorney and Conference Director Carlie Ware Horne, who joined SLS in 2023 after 14 years as a public defender in Santa Clara County.

“There are some excellent training opportunities out there for public defenders, but since 2020 there has been a backlog, especially with regard to public defenders who have recently started their careers,” Horne said. “When I came to Stanford Law School, I saw an opportunity to leverage the resources and brainpower here to create this program for public defenders, who have some of the toughest jobs in public service.”

Horne said she and her STANDUP co-planners also looked to the broader Stanford campus for programming inspiration. For example, STANDUP kicked off with a plenary session led by Associate Professor of Marketing Szu-Chi Huang from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business who spoke about the “human factor” in persuasion. 

“It was gratifying to be able to tap into the insight that comes from the business world—for example, the process of marketing to consumers—and using that for the furtherance of justice,” Horne said. 

From Opening Statements to Guided Meditation

STANDUP participants engaged in small-group workshops and plenary sessions that covered all aspects of trial practice: crafting compelling opening statements, effectively cross-examining witnesses, handling jury selection, delivering powerful closing statements, and so on. Sprinkled throughout the three days were opportunities for the participants to engage with Professor Ronald Tyler on other important—but less discussed—aspects of public defense: self-care and stress management. Tyler has served as the Criminal Defense Clinic’s Director for more than a decade.

Through early-morning guided meditation sessions, breathing exercises, and a plenary session titled “Caring For Yourself is an Act of Political Warfare,” Tyler shared some of his trademark strategies for de-stressing and handling the challenges of what is often an emotionally wrenching career. 

“Having worked as a federal public defender for more than 20 years, and then teaching the next generation of public defenders through the clinic, I’ve seen too often the negative emotional and health impacts of advocating on behalf of some of the most vulnerable populations in a legal system that can be chronically unfair,” Tyler said. “We are able to best represent our clients when we are the best, healthiest versions of ourselves. We couldn’t run a three-day trial advocacy program without training a lens on that reality.” 

‘I Got Better at Everything’

STANDUP participant Holst Katsma, JD ’24, spent two quarters in the Criminal Defense Clinic while he was an SLS student. “I got better at everything during STANDUP,” said Katsma, who will soon join the Contra Costa County Public Defenders. “As someone just beginning their career, it was a fantastic opportunity to see other public defenders fearlessly try out new techniques and then take what I liked—a phrase that hit home, an image in closing that stuck— and try it out as well.”

Heather Rogers, JD ’03, now Santa Cruz County’s first public defender, served as a small group facilitator at STANDUP.  She said public defenders need more quality training programs like STANDUP. “Public defense remains critically underfunded at every level,” she said. “According to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, prosecutors receive nearly $1 billion more in funding than public defenders. Prosecutors can also tap into a vast law enforcement network of investigative resources and support that cost them nothing. That leaves our communities at risk. Strong public defense is critical to public safety and to fulfilling the promise of the 6th Amendment and Gideon v. Wainwright that people accused of crimes are entitled to effective representation.”  

STANDUP organizers expect the program to grow over the years and to serve an expanding number of public defenders from across California.

About the Stanford Law School Criminal Defense Clinic

Through the SLS Criminal Defense Clinic, participating students are immersed in the world of indigent defense. Each student represents members of the community accused of crimes in the courts of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. State misdemeanor cases encompass a wide range of charges, such as drug use and possession, resisting arrest, and theft. Other state case assignments include working for people’s pretrial release. Some quarters, the Clinic’s docket also includes federal cases in the Northern District of California. Clinic students are their clients’ primary legal representatives in and out of court. Under the close supervision of Professor Ronald Tyler and Clinical Supervising Attorney Carlie Ware Horne, students undertake investigation, interview witnesses, engage in plea negotiations, draft motions, conduct evidentiary hearings, and make other court appearances. Persuasive writing with rigorous faculty edits is a major component of the clinic. The Clinic also addresses broader systemic issues such as implicit bias, immigration consequences, economic disparities, and addiction.

About Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School is one of the nation’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education. Its alumni are among the most influential decision makers in law, politics, business, and high technology. Faculty members argue before the Supreme Court, testify before Congress, produce outstanding legal scholarship and empirical analysis, and contribute regularly to the nation’s press as legal and policy experts. Stanford Law School has established a model for legal education that provides rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and focus on public service, spearheading a movement for change.