Kristen Reller

Experience

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  Nima Muhimanchi Arts

  Sept 2012 - Dec 2012

  Business Executive

  Wrote organizations constitution, structured Board of Directors and membership policy. Registered organization as an official NGO with Ghanaian and U.S. governments. Worked to foster entrepreneurship and creativity in Ghanaian youth to aid development. Organized community events and mural paintings. Prepared art workshops for students.

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  The Legal Rights Center

  May 2013 - Jan 2015

  Volunteer Law Clerk

  Conduct in-person client intake interviews, including in-custody contact visits. Follow-up with clients and provide references and connections to community resources. Draft motions and memos, including those for expungments and dismissals.

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  Wilderness Canoe Base

  May 2014 - Aug 2014

  Canoe Guide
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  Red Cross International Humanitarian Workshop

  Nov 2014 - Nov 2014

  Participant

  Featured lectures from leading practitioners and hands-on exercises. Learned the historical development of the law, conflict classification, restrictions on means and methods of warfare, protections for vulnerable persons during armed conflict, and enforcement of IHL.

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  ProBar

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2015

  Volunteer Law Clerk

  Reviewed a USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE) for a U Visa Petition. Wrote a memo about how to respond to the RFE. Interviewed client in English and Spanish. Drafted supplemental declaration for client signature and began draft of RFE response. Participated in a “know your rights” presentation in a children’s detention facility. Observed immigration court.

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  Hennepin County Public Defenders

  May 2015 - Jan 2016

  Law Clerk

  Research criminal and constitutional issues involved in clients’ defense. Write interoffice memos, briefs, motions in limine, and memoranda of law in support of motions. Areas of research include statute of limitations in DNA cases, inability to pay child support, expansion of traffic stop, constructive possession, definition of firearms, searches of hotel registries, the expansion of the third-party doctrine, and suppression of social media evidence.

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  Law and Inequality: a Journal of Theory and Practice

  Jul 2015 - May 2017

  Staff Member (Vol. 34), Lead Outside Articles Editor (Vol. 35)
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  Federal Immigration Litigation Clinic

  May 2016 - May 2017

  Student Director

  Argued domestic violence based asylum case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals during the 2016 October St. Paul term. Researched immigration and administrative law issues involved in clients’ appeals in federal circuit court. Drafted motion for judicial stay of removal, motion to reopen, opening and reply briefs, and petitions for rehearing. Organized exhibits, table of contents, appendix and addendum for motion to reopen and briefs. Assisted students and attorneys prepare for oral arguments through moots. Show less

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  South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense-- Capital Trial Division

  May 2016 - Jan 2017

  Law Clerk

  Drafted motions, including pretrial motions, Brady motions during trial, and motions for new trial. Other writing included proposed orders and inter-office memos. Assisted in trial preparation and strategy, including work with exhibits and discovery. Areas of research included mental health, reciprocal discovery, illegal interrogation, denial of the right to counsel, suppression of prejudicial evidence, exclusion of character evidence, and improper tactics by solicitor during trial.

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  ACLU Immigration Project

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2017

  Volunteer Law Clerk

  Assisted immigration attorneys in providing information and advice after the Trump inauguration.

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  Florence Project

  Mar 2017 - Mar 2017

  Volunteer Law Clerk

  Supported Attorneys at the Florence Project, working on research requests. Worked with Haitian asylum seekers in detention.

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  Hennepin County Public Defender

  May 2017 - Jun 2018

  Assistant Public Defender (Robina Public Interest Fellow)

  Represented clients charged with misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor offenses in Hennepin County. Participated in two-month training on client relationships, case management, and trial skills. Worked with clients in and out of custody. Argued against oppressive bail and other conditions of release. Wrote and argued motions. Advocated for clients at contested hearings, including evidentiary hearings and probation violation hearings. Represented clients at trial.

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  Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid

  Jun 2018 - Feb 2021

  Staff Attorney

  Represented immigrant clients in both affirmative applications and in removal proceedings. Areas of focus included removal defense, naturalization, and refugee adjustment where client had criminal history. Participated in Minnesota Detention Project, conducting legal orientations at Sherburne County Jail. Worked on Hennepin County Defending Immigrants Grant, providing universal representation for Hennepin County residents in immigration detention. Created know-your-rights materials for distribution in the Hennepin County Jail. Worked with the Sheriff's office and local community groups to end local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, including research and presentations on JAG grant requirements and litigation. Attended National Institute of Trial Advocacy Advocacy in Immigration Matters trial school program, October 2019. Show less

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  Maricopa County Office of the Public Defender

  Feb 2021 - now

  Appellate unit Felony trial group Early Disposition Court

  • Deputy Public Defender

    Feb 2023 - now

  • Deputy Public Defender

    May 2022 - Feb 2023

  • Deputy Public Defender

    Feb 2021 - May 2022