The Juvenile Defender Advisory Council (JDAC) is a collaboration of the YAD private counsel division, YAD management staff, and the juvenile supervising attorneys from each bar advocate program in Massachusetts. JDAC members come together and meet four times a year to discuss training, practice, and advocacy issues throughout the Commonwealth for the benefit of our clients.
2022 – 2023 Current JDAC Members
Bar Advocates Supervising Attorneys
Andrew LeClair, Norfolk County
Alisa Rosenthal, Essex County
Andrew Zeiberg, Essex County
Dana Sargent, Bristol County
Frank Yee, Norfolk County
Glenn Keiderling, Berkshire County
Jeffrey Brown, Franklin & Hampshire Counties
Jennifer Currie, Worcester County
Maryellen Cuthbert, Middlesex County
Matthew Bober, Barnstable County
Maurice Powe, Hampden County
Michael Kilkelly, Middlesex County
Nibal Raheb, Worcester County
Patrick Colvario, Suffolk County
Scott Niemisto, Suffolk County
Theresa Dillon, Plymouth
YAD Attorneys in Charge
Jamie Bennett, YAD Worcester Office
Charity Kruzel, YAD Springfield Office
Dean Douglas, YAD Hyannis Office
Harris Krinsky, YAD Lowell Office
Holly Smith, YAD Somerville Office
Jeff Richards, YAD Roxbury Office
Joseph Mulhern, YAD Fall River Office
Scott Rankin, YAD Salem Office
Ziyad Hopkins, YAD Quincy Office
YAD Administration
Afton Templin, Director of Juvenile Appeals
Claudia Dunne, Director of Social Work
Erica Cushna, Trial Panel Director
Duci Goncalves, Deputy Chief Counsel
Laura Alfring, Senior Trial Counsel
Marlies Spanjaard, Director of Education Advocacy
Melanie Roberts, YAD Director of Training
Melissa Ellis, Staff Counsel
Patrick Sparks, Senior Trial Counsel
Priscilla Duffy, Assistant Director