Committee for Public Counsel Services
Carrie Burke possesses extensive experience in social services advocacy, particularly within the criminal defense sector. Currently serving as the Director of Social Services Advocacy for the Committee for Public Counsel Services since August 2009, Carrie oversees social services functions for the adult criminal defense unit. Prior to this role, positions included Supervising Social Services Advocate for the Northeast and Central/Western Regions, providing supervision and direct advocacy for indigent clients. Earlier career experiences include organizing work with the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition and leading immigrant advocacy campaigns at the Irish Immigration Center. Carrie holds a Master of Social Work degree from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Bard College, complemented by an Associate's degree from Bard College at Simon's Rock.
Committee for Public Counsel Services
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The Committee is a 15-member body appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. It oversees the provision of legal representation to indigent persons in criminal and civil cases and administrative proceedings in which there is a right to counsel. We provide legal representation in Massachusetts for those unable to afford an attorney in all matters in which the law requires the appointment of counsel. This includes representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, mental health, sexually dangerous person and sex offender registry cases, as well as related appeals and post-conviction matters. Representation is provided by a combination of approximately 500 staff attorneys and 3,000 private attorneys trained and certified to accept appointments. Support for and supervision of these attorneys is provided by the Private Counsel and Public Defender Divisions (for criminal cases and related matters), the Children and Family Law Division (for child welfare cases), the Youth Advocacy Division (for delinquency, youthful offender, and GCL revocation cases), and the Mental Health Litigation Division (for guardianships and mental health/substance abuse commitments). Additionally, the Immigration Impact Unit provides attorneys within all divisions with training, litigation support and advice in individual cases regarding immigration consequences for noncitizens clients.