The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has selected Tara I. Allen to serve as the next Federal Defender for the Districts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island (press release available here).
Renowned for her exceptional dedication to criminal defense litigation and legal education, she is currently the Bruce I. Kogan Distinguished Service Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law, where she teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence and Criminal Trial Practice. She is also the director of the law school’s trial team program.
She has served as an Assistant Federal Defender for the District of Rhode Island, and Federal Defender offices in Pennsylvania and California. She also served as staff counsel for two federal appeals courts.
A highly sought-after speaker and educator, she frequently participates in national panels, workshops, and training sessions, offering invaluable training and insights to criminal defense attorneys on federal sentencing law, policy, and practice. Her commitment to serving Defender Nation is further exemplified by her roles as a respected faculty member at both the Federal Criminal Justice Act Trial Skills Academy and the National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute.