2026 Awards Ceremony

The Committee presented the awards at an in-person Awards Ceremony at Suffolk University Law School on May 26, 2026.

Congratulations to this year’s Award Winners.

CPCS Community Leadership Award

The CPCS Community Leadership Award goes to a person or organization dedicated to the work that we do and the communities that we serve. The winner of this award will have undertaken a forward-looking campaign, or be committed to an ongoing mission, that directly benefits our clients and the communities in which they live and embodies the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence.

Anne Bader Martin & Duci Goncalves

One Can Help is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young people and families navigating both the juvenile legal and child welfare systems. Partnering closely with public defenders, social workers, and community advocates, the organization provides individualized, timely assistance to meet urgent needs at critical moments.

Whether it’s a bus pass to get to school or court, a laptop for educational access, or fees for sports and enrichment activities, One Can Help delivers practical resources that can make the difference between stability and setback. These targeted supports help youth remain engaged in school, connected to their communities, and on a path toward positive outcomes.

Rooted in a deep commitment to equity, One Can Help recognizes that systemic barriers disproportionately impact families of color and those underserved by traditional systems. By offering direct, flexible support, the organization works to address these inequities and ensure that all young people have the opportunity to succeed.

In a time of strained public resources, One Can Help’s work is both immediate and transformative. Their compassionate, responsive approach reflects the power of direct assistance to change lives.

Jane Addams Award for Outstanding Social Service Accomplishments

The Jane Addams Award for Outstanding Social Service Accomplishments honors a staff social worker or social service advocate who exemplifies a commitment to clients through their advocacy, support, and dedication consistent with the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence. The Addams Award recognizes the profound impact of social workers and social service advocates serving as members of a legal team. It is named for Jane Addams, a pioneer in establishing the field of social work and the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace prize.

Kristen Dame & Jacquelyn Oppler

Jacquelyn Oppler’s impressive professional biography is second only to her most cherished role, that as a devoted mother to her remarkable son, Zack. Jacky’s passion for human interest and social justice started as a 9-year-old volunteer for pediatric cancer patients and juvenile diabetes and has never wavered. As a community organizer, she fought for women’s reproductive rights, environmental justice, and HIV prevention. As a star athlete and D1 rugby player, she always made time to coach youth sports. She earned an MSW, specializing in Behavioral Medicine, a graduate certificate in forensic psychology, and holds a LICSW.

Prior to joining CPCS in 2016, Jacky worked for federal probation drug court, a DYS secure detention unit, a youth homeless shelter, as a clinician for a DYS residential treatment facility, as a counselor at a therapeutic high school, and as a community outpatient therapist. Her reputation as an accomplished Social Services Advocate (SSA) on pre-trial cases for the Boston and Fall River PDD offices preceded Jacky when she joined the PCD in 2022, as its first SSA.

As a believer in community partnerships, the relationships she developed with stakeholders led to improved legal and life outcomes for our parole, SDP, innocence, and appellate clients. She is the definition of advocacy.

2026 Emerging Defenders

The Emerging Defender Awards are presented to one or more individuals committed to indigent defense who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, excelled when facing challenging situations, and shown they are highly motivated to continuously learn and improve. Recipients of this award will have been employed with CPCS or worked with CPCS clients for five or fewer years and demonstrated a commitment to the agency’s core values of courage, accountability, respect and excellence.

AnaMaria Gioia, Ellen Grieco, Shannon Grieve, Jacob Hayward & Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti

AnaMaria Gioia, Private Counsel, Boston

Ellen Grieco, Trial Attorney, CAFL Worcester

Shannon Grieve, Trial Attorney, Family Justice Advocates Springfield

Jacob Hayward, Trial Attorney, PDD Boston

Isabella Hernandez, Trial Attorney, PDD Pittsfield

Margaret Winchester Parent and Child Defender Award

The Margaret Winchester Parent and Child Defender Award honors a person who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the families of Massachusetts by protecting the rights of parents, children, and other parties in care and protection and other family regulation/child welfare cases, consistent with the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence. The recipient is someone who, much like Attorney Winchester, is a champion for children, parents, and others, assuring that they are treated equitably and with dignity in the courtroom, in the community, and in their dealings with the Department of Children and Families.

Jeanne Kaiser

A graduate of Western New England College School of Law, Jeanne Kaiser returned there in 1998 as a Professor of Legal Writing and Research. Since then, Jeanne has participated in dozens of Children and Family Law (CAFL) appeals and served as a CAFL appellate mentor. Her many appellate victories include:

Guardianship of Raya (holding that mother was not unfit merely because her 14-year-old refused to return home: “a teenager cannot render her parent unfit by the simple expedient of refusing to engage with that parent”)
Care and Protection of M.C. (holding that parent’s waiver of their Fifth Amendment privilege in C&P is case-specific and doesn’t waive their right to assert the privilege in later criminal proceeding)
Custody of Victoria (allowing Jeanne’s unaccompanied refugee minor client to remain in Massachusetts after placement here by Office of Refugee Resettlement).

During CAFL’s Western Massachusetts “counsel crisis,” Jeanne helped select and train “WNEU Law Fellows” – students with an interest in child welfare law seeking placement with local staff offices or private CAFL attorneys. Almost all of the WNEU Fellows – and many of Jeanne’s other students – now do CAFL staff or private panel work, helping us immensely during the crisis.

We are delighted to honor Jeanne with this award.

Willie J. Davis and Edward J. Duggan Award for Outstanding Criminal Defense Advocacy – Private Counsel

The Willie J. Davis and Edward J. Duggan Award for Outstanding Criminal Defense Advocacy award is given to both a Public Defender Division and Private Counsel attorney and is named for two extraordinary leaders. The awards are presented to criminal defense attorneys who demonstrate exceptional skill, determination, compassion, and courage while zealously representing indigent clients in the trial courts of the Massachusetts criminal legal system consistent with the CPCS core values of care, accountability, respect, and excellence.

Karli-Marie Fernandez & Holly T. Smith

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised by her single mother and grandparents, Karli-Marie Fernandez developed a passion for justice early on, working in her uncle’s criminal defense firm starting at age 13. A 1993 graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy—where she earned a merit award and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed”— she went on to graduate from Chaminade University and briefly taught high school English before pursuing a legal career.

After graduating from California Western School of Law in 2001, she moved to Massachusetts, was admitted to the Bar in 2002, and immediately dedicated herself to advocacy, volunteering at Volunteer Lawyers and joining Roncone Law Offices. With over 15 years as a Bar Advocate representing indigent clients, she established herself as a formidable force in the courtroom.

Throughout her distinguished career, Karli has served as a board member for the Worcester County Bar Advocates for four years, has taught CLE’s on restraining orders, CJIS and Firearms, and Artificial Intelligence, and made history as the organization’s second female president and its first Latina president. After operating her own practice in Leominster, she moved her practice to Worcester, co-creating Farrell Fernandez P.C., a dedicated criminal defense and probate firm. Balancing a rigorous legal career with family life, she is the proud mother of two children, Aria and Aidan.

Willie J. Davis and Edward J. Duggan Award for Outstanding Criminal Defense Advocacy – Public Counsel

John Hayes & Lavinia Bullock

John Hayes has been a trial attorney and zealous advocate for 36 incredible years. He is a quiet storm.

He is the Supervising Senior Trial Counsel for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) in the Boston Trial Unit. He began his CPCS journey, first in Worcester, then Salem, and finally in the Boston Trial Unit. He has focused on defending murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, and other serious felonies, primarily in Superior Court.

He served as the Attorney in Charge of the Boston Superior Court Trial Unit between 2009 and 2019. As the Attorney in Charge, John was an outstanding leader and formidable presence in Suffolk County Courtrooms.

John is currently serving on the BBA Amicus Committee and Criminal Law Section and previously served as Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Section. John has also been a panelist and organizer of BBA programs related to criminal law issues, as well as MCLE programs on homicide, criminal law, and trial practice. John is a graduate of Boston College Law School, received a BA from Boston University, and a master’s in political philosophy from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Teresa McParland Award for Operational Excellence

The Teresa McParland Award for Operational Excellence is presented to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to improving agency operations in service to our clients through enhancing agency performance consistent with the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence. These attributes were all hallmarks of Terry McParland during her CPCS career. The award honors Operations staff who exhibit extraordinary dedication, action, vision, passion, and creativity in improving the services, systems, quality of life, efficiency, and environment provided to agency staff, clients, and private counsel.

Jason Varela, Bob Vient, Jon Bartelson

Jason Varela is a cornerstone of the CPCS IT family, with over three years of dedicated service and bringing a decade of total technical expertise to the team. Since joining, Jay has been recognized for his remarkable “go-getter” attitude and his ability to master complex systems with impressive speed. He remains a lifelong learner, constantly evolving his skill set to ensure he doesn’t just meet but consistently exceeds the expectations of every end user he supports.

Before finding his calling in the IT world, Jay spent seven years as a lifeguard and private swimming instructor between 2008 and 2015. This background in safety and instruction seamlessly transitioned into his current career, where his patience and problem-solving skills shine.

When he isn’t optimizing technology, Jay embraces a life of movement and energy. A fan of the UFC and the color red, he stays active through his love for riding motorcycles, swimming, basketball, and roller-skating. After a day of adventure, nothing beats his favorite meal of steak, eggs, rice, and French fries. However, no matter how busy life gets, his primary focus remains on his family, which is the most important part of his world.

2026 Emerging Defenders

Diana Howat, Lydia Jones, Amelia Kennedy-Smith, Johanna Merlos & Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti

Diana Howat, Staff Counsel, EdLaw Roxbury

Lydia Jones, Social Services Advocate, YAD Salem

Amelia Kennedy-Smith, Trial Attorney, PDD Roxbury

Jacob Maddox, Trial Attorney, PDD Boston

Johanna Merlos, Trial Attorney, PDD Quincy

Carol A. Donovan Award for Exceptional Advocacy

The Carol A. Donovan Award for Exceptional Advocacy recognizes excellence in legal advocacy and is given to attorneys – public or private – whose zealous advocacy has had a lasting impact on the legal and/or life outcomes experienced by our clients. Recipients will demonstrate the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence through appellate or other strategic litigation while addressing systemic injustice affecting CPCS clients and the communities in which they live.

Holly T. Smith & Jim McKenna

CPCS is pleased to present this award to Jim McKenna.

For over 17 years, Jim has represented his post-conviction clients with passion and perseverance. In cases like Commonwealth v. Ware and Commonwealth v. Sutton, Jim has held the Commonwealth to its duty to investigate and disclose exculpatory evidence. Recently, Jim convinced the single justice to order an investigation into an anonymous allegation that the trial judge and prosecutor in his client’s case were in an undisclosed romantic relationship.

In addition to carrying an extensive caseload, Jim generously supports his colleagues on the appellate panel. He regularly participates in moots and brainstorms. He has taken over appeals where attorneys must withdraw and thoughtfully and discreetly assisted attorneys in many other ways. Jim is collaborative and unfailingly kind.

Jim has extensive and diverse experience, having worked for ten years as prosecutor and for another ten years at private firms.

In his limited spare time, Jim also contributes to the broader community. For over 33 years, he has taught Ethics and Business Law at WPI. He has coached and judged high school mock trial and civics competitions and has been the Millbury Town Moderator for over eight years.

Maura Mellen Administrative Professional Award

The Maura Mellen Administrative Professional Award honors an administrative staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to the delivery of zealous and effective advocacy for CPCS clients consistent with the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence. The award recognizes that administrative staff members perform many critical roles in the provision of zealous representation to CPCS clients.

Grace O’Handley & Dan Mahoney

Senior Administrative Assistant Grace O’Handley has been in the Pittsfield CAFL office since 2012. Prior to CPCS, the Dalton native worked for the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office at the former Juvenile Resource Center, a grant-funded school suspension program for students on Second Street in Pittsfield. Grace also worked at The Berkshire Eagle for twenty-three years, including twelve years as the Eagle’s librarian, running the newspaper’s archives department.

Grace is a daily presence in the CAFL office and was so even during the COVID years. Her empathetic and caring nature towards clients as well as staff brings comfort to the office. Grace’s professionalism sets the tone for how everyone on the CAFL team goes about their practice. Grace believes deeply in fairness and contributes to the underdog spirit of the office. In the face of great adversity, Berkshire County CAFL fights for our clients and Grace is an invaluable part of that.

For the last few years, Grace has volunteered with other office staff at the Christian Center in Pittsfield, helping to peel hundreds of pounds of vegetables for the Center’s Thanksgiving dinner that serves the homebound and disadvantaged. She also volunteers with Pittsfield Beautiful planting summer flowers in downtown Pittsfield.

Paul J. Liacos Mental Health Advocacy Award

The Paul J. Liacos Mental Health Advocacy Award recognizes a staff or private attorney whose advocacy on behalf of persons involved in mental health litigation proceedings exemplifies client centered zealous advocacy consistent with the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence. The award honors a person whose advocacy has made a meaningful impact in furtherance of our clients’ interest in due process of law, personal autonomy, and the ability to live an independent life.

Ann Grant & Laura A. Sanford

Ann Grant single handedly took on GL c. 123 s. 35, civil commitment for substance use, as a brand-new PDD trial attorney in May 2015. She lost her first s. 35 hearing, appealed it to the District Court Appellate Division and lost that. Undeterred, and in a foreshadowing of her current role as PDD appellate counsel, Ann went to the SJC on a c. 211 s. 3. The Single Justice reported it to the full bench; consequently, within a year of joining CPCS, Ann argued and won the watershed case, Matter of G.P., 473 Mass. 112 (2015).

During the pandemic, Ann lobbied for CPCS to intervene when s.35 respondents were shackled and detained in police vans up to nine hours awaiting their hearings while courthouses were closed. She subsequently co-authored standing orders adopted by the courts to end this practice. Ann created trainings for defending and appealing s.35 hearings, headed up a s.35 task force, advocated for the rights of s.35 respondents at a short-lived jail-court created in response to the Mass & Cass crisis, and authored the Section 35 Handbook.

Before CPCS, Ann was a public defender with New York County Defender Services. Formative experiences include working as a special education teacher in Mississippi with Teach for America; interning at Legal Aid where she investigated cases; and, at her firm job, working on a pro bono appeal where a woman had been sentenced to ten years in jail because her newborn tested positive for heroin.

Ann’s leadership, insight, and decade plus of training CPCS attorneys revolutionized CPCS’s s.35 practice. CPCS represents four thousand plus s.35 clients a year. Because of Ann’s transformative work, we do a far better job now than before she joined CPCS.

2026 Emerging Defenders

Maddison Murnane, Sarah Ursini, Kayla Roze, Veronica Santos-Puim & Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti

Maddison Murnane, Trial Attorney, CAFL Boston

Pranav Nanda, Trial Attorney, PDD Roxbury

Kayla Roze, Trial Attorney, PDD Lawrence

Veronica Santos-Puim, Trial Attorney, PDD Lawrence

Sarah Ursini, Trial Attorney, PDD Malden

Maria Souto–Armand Goyette Investigator Award

The Jay D. Blitzman Award for Youth Advocacy is presented to a person who has demonstrated a commitment to courageously advocating for the rights of children and youth, which was the hallmark of Judge Blitzman’s long career. The award honors an advocate who exemplifies the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence and has exhibited extraordinary dedication, compassion and skill to assure that children accused of criminal conduct, or otherwise at risk, are treated fairly, equitably, and with dignity in the courtroom, in the community, and in the custody of the state.

Nan Whitfield & David J. Meade

David J. Meade is the Investigator’s Investigator. PDD Lowell Trial Office has had the pleasure of working with and around him since July, 2016.

Known best for his innate, unique and dogged ability to find anyone and anything under the sun; be it a witness, a needed record or an exonerating piece of video footage, we can always count on David to find it and them.

David is the consummate (and, often well-dressed) professional who has dedicated himself to the service of our clients and CPCS staff, and not just for the Lowell office and northern region, but pretty much statewide. From ferrying attorneys (and a managing director) to and from courthouses and commuter rail stations in inclement weather to bringing fresh venison into the office while dispensing helpful gardening tips, David has been described as the “ultimate team player who never says ‘no’ and never gives up”.

With a great sense of humor and a quick and clever wit, David can easily make lasting connections with all who he encounters.

We are all made the better by his time here at CPCS, and he has rightfully earned the 2026 Maria Souto-Armand Goyette Investigator Award.

Jay D. Blitzman Award for Youth Advocacy

The Jay D. Blitzman Award for Youth Advocacy is presented to a person who has demonstrated a commitment to courageously advocating for the rights of children and youth, which was the hallmark of Judge Blitzman’s long career. The award honors an advocate who exemplifies the CPCS core values of courage, accountability, respect, and excellence and has exhibited extraordinary dedication, compassion and skill to assure that children accused of criminal conduct, or otherwise at risk, are treated fairly, equitably, and with dignity in the courtroom, in the community, and in the custody of the state.

Duci Goncalves & Melissa Celli

Melissa Celli is an experienced and dedicated advocate whose appellate work has significantly advanced youth defense in Massachusetts. With deep expertise in juvenile law, immigration, and parole advocacy, she has argued numerous cases before the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court, helping shape key legal standards. Her work was instrumental in clarifying changes to juveniles’ legal liability resulting from the Criminal Justice Act of 2018.

Over the past decade, Melissa has become a trusted leader in youth appellate defense and is described as the “go to” attorney in this area. She has represented more than a dozen young clients on appeal, often in complex, multi-year litigation. Melissa has also litigated multiple issues of first impression and frequently collaborates with colleagues on landmark cases and amicus advocacy. Recently in Manolo M, 496 Mass. 244 (2025), she secured a finding that clarified that resisting arrest cannot “be accomplished by merely stiffening one’s arm to avoid being handcuffed.” Beyond the courtroom, she mentors newer attorneys and contributes to strengthening the defense community.

Known for her “whatever the client needs” approach, Melissa pairs exceptional legal skill with deep compassion, building lasting relationships with her clients while mentoring the next generation of youth defenders.

Thurgood Marshall Award

The Chief Counsel Award for Outstanding Service to the Agency recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication, reliability, and a willingness to go above and beyond their assigned duties to support the agency’s goals. This award serves as a poignant reminder of the collective effort required to achieve the agency’s mission and acknowledges the invaluable contributions of those whose work may not always receive the spotlight. Through their unwavering commitment and selfless dedication, recipients of this award exemplify the highest standards of service at CPCS. This award will periodically go to people or organizations that do not naturally fit in other categories.

Jennifer Klein & Holly T. Smith

Jennifer Klein joined the CPCS Immigration Impact Unit in 2010 and has devoted her career to building the IIU into a nationwide leader at the intersection of public defense and immigration law. Over 15 years at CPCS, Jen has assisted thousands of Massachusetts defense attorneys in meeting their obligations under Padilla v. Kentucky and has been a staunch advocate against the criminalization of immigrants and the exclusion of system-involved individuals from immigration representation and community resources. Serving as counsel on significant appellate cases and co-authoring amicus briefs for many others, Jen has advanced some of the most expansive rights in the country for noncitizens in the criminal system.

Jen became Director of the IIU in 2024 and in 2025, Jen realized a career-long dream by securing CPCS’s role in the MACI program – a state funded universal representation program for indigent immigrants in deportation proceedings. Jen is committed to ensuring that the new program operates with a true public defender ethos and continues to be available to CPCS clients.

Jen is also a dedicated educator and mentor. She has developed trainings for attorneys and law students, has served as an adjunct professor at Boston College, and has been a speaker and panelist at numerous professional events. She has also authored several publications on criminal-immigration law, appeared in the media, and testified before the Massachusetts State Legislature is support of policies that protect immigrant communities.

Chief Counsel Award for Outstanding Service to the Agency

Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti, Rose King, Adam Narris, Christie Charles, Matt Gilbertson, Brianna Rowley & Nathan Goldstein

As Aristotle wrote, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.” The small but very capable Criminal Trial Support Unit (CTSU) found itself in the epicenter of last year’s attorney work stoppage. Despite intense challenges and a seemingly endless number of people in need of representation, the CTSU never lost sight of their unwavering commitment to our clients. From May to October, CTSU attorneys under the leadership of CTSU Director Rose King, left no stone unturned in their efforts to secure counsel for unrepresented defendants. Matt Gilbertson and Christie Charles worked tirelessly through the crisis to find counsel for those in custody, calling hundreds of attorneys each month. When counsel could not be found, they drafted scores of Motions and Affidavits to obtain each affected person’s liberty.

In October when the incentive program started, they began to chip away at the list of unrepresented individuals and found counsel for every defendant. Adam Narris and Nathan Goldstein spent months in court protecting defendants’ rights by arguing for their release at Lavallee hearings, sometimes handling as many as 40 release motions in a single day. The team appeared at the Lavallee Hearings in Lowell (Middlesex) and the Boston Municipal Court to secure the release of defendants who had been held without counsel for longer than seven days. Brianna Rowley protected the rights of thousands of unrepresented defendants across Suffolk County at Lavallee dismissal hearings on a weekly basis. She also managed phone intakes speaking with defendants who called seeking information about the status of the assignment of an attorney to their cases. Rose King managed the whole operation, creating and streamlining internal procedures, providing hands on in-court support and assistance to Attorneys Narris and Goldstien, and assisting Attorney Gilbertson and Charles in managing the list of unrepresented defendants while working to locate attorneys.

The CTSU staff assisted approximately 7,000 people during this period while simultaneously managing their standard daily workload. The CTSU staff’s work is multifaceted and their tasks too voluminous to list, but the focus is always on ensuring our clients receive the zealous representation they are entitled to by collaborating with supervising attorneys and mentors who support bar advocates, addressing and attempting to resolve client complaints, and fulfilling their broader oversight duties.

We fight for equal justice and
human dignity by supporting our
clients in achieving their legal and
life goals. We zealously advocate
for the rights of individuals and
promote just public policy to
protect the rights of all.

Thank you to the following for their contributions to making the CPCS Award Ceremony happen:

Nancy Baratta

Kerry Batte

Jacquelyn Diaz

Kristen Gondim

Lauren Looney

Tere Ramos

Holly T. Smith

Amber Squires

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