Criminal Court Judge
Year Elected/Appointed
2026
Previous Employment
Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy, Vanderbilt University Law School (2004-2014)
Nashville Metropolitan Public Defender (2008-2018)
Founder & Executive Director, Choosing Justice Initiative
Nashville Metropolitan Public Defender (2008-2018)
Founder & Executive Director, Choosing Justice Initiative
Education
COLUMBIA COLLEGE Undergraduate 1993
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Law School 1996
Honors
2002 Robert W. Ritchie Award for Outstanding Service to TACDL
2011 Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney Award (Tennessee Bar Association)
2012 Stephen B. Bright Public Defender Award (Gideon's Promise)
2018 Thurgood Marshall Award, National Association for Public Defense
2011 Ashley T. Wiltshire Public Service Attorney Award (Tennessee Bar Association)
2012 Stephen B. Bright Public Defender Award (Gideon's Promise)
2018 Thurgood Marshall Award, National Association for Public Defense
Membership(s)
Harry Phillips American Inn of Court
Lawyer's Association for Women
Tennessee Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association
Lawyer's Association for Women
Tennessee Bar Association
Nashville Bar Association
Community Involvement
Family Reconciliation Center Board of Directors (2016-2018)
Gideon's Promise Board of Directors (2018-2025)
ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID), Revised Ten Principles Committee Member (2023)
Nashville Continuum of Care Homelessness Planning Council (2019-2022)
TN Supreme Court Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (2010-2016)
Gideon's Promise Board of Directors (2018-2025)
ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense (SCLAID), Revised Ten Principles Committee Member (2023)
Nashville Continuum of Care Homelessness Planning Council (2019-2022)
TN Supreme Court Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (2010-2016)
Dawn
C
Deaner
Contact Info
6158625940
Address
408 Second Ave North, Suite 6110
Nashville, TN 37201
United States
Counties
Davidson