New Hampshire Public Defender
Heather Erskine is a legal professional with extensive experience in public defense and appellate law. Currently serving as a Staff Attorney at the New Hampshire Public Defender since January 2023, Erskine previously held the position of Deputy Division Chief and Staff Attorney at the Louisville Metro Public Defender from August 2015 to January 2023. Prior experience includes working as a Staff Attorney for the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and interning at the Office of the Appellate Defender and the Immigrant Defense Project. Additionally, Erskine contributed as a Program Developer at OpenDoors prior to entering the legal field. Educational qualifications include a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Brown University.
New Hampshire Public Defender
The New Hampshire Public Defender was established in 1972 as a pilot project of New Hampshire Legal Assistance, and has existed as a stand-alone institution since 1985. Its sole purpose is to provide indigent defense services to citizens charged with crimes. The Program began with a single office in Concord. Over time, the Program opened satellite offices in other counties, and established administrative offices in its Merrimack County office, located in Concord, the state capital. In 1981, the Public Defender, in collaboration with the Franklin Pierce Law Center (now the University of New Hampshire School of Law), started the Appellate Defender Program, which provides indigent defense services to defendants who appeal their convictions to the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Today, the Public Defender is an independent, non-profit, corporation with offices in every county. The Program works diligently to provide quality representation in a cost-effective manner to indigent defendants accused of crimes in all state courts. In addition to its attorneys, the Public Defender employs legal assistants, investigators, support staff, and information technology specialists, all of whom are dedicated to its core mission of serving indigent citizens accused of crimes.