Welcome to Our New Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator

by Meryl Carver-Allmond, BIDS Training Director

Earlier this summer, BIDS hired Emily Leiker to fill the newly created position of Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator. Emily works under BIDS General Counsel Brandon Barrett in the Administrative Office. If you’ve recently called for help finding counsel or an expert for a case, you’ve probably already talked to her, but for those who have not yet had the pleasure, I recently sat down with Emily to ask a few introductory questions.

As the first-ever Assigned Counsel and Expert Coordinator, you’ve stepped into an entirely new role within BIDS.  Can you tell us a little about what your job will encompass?

Right now, I’m spending a lot of my time working with judges and private attorneys to provide assigned counsel for cases that cannot be covered by public defender offices. I’m also really trying to expand the experts program. I’m the go-to person if an attorney is having difficulty finding an expert for their case, so one of my goals is to develop a user-friendly database of experts to help attorneys find a good fit. Of course, I’m sure there are many other projects that will come up as well.

What other jobs have you had as an attorney, and how did they lead you to want to work for BIDS?

I graduated from KU Law in 2020 and took an attorney position at the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, where I had been interning for a year. I worked in the DRC’s Disability and Aging Crime Victims Unit, where I got a taste of the criminal law world from the victim’s side. That position gave me insight into how much the justice system relies on having good, zealous advocacy on all sides of a criminal case. I also saw how often marginalized people cycle between being accused of a crime and being victimized by crime. I’m passionate about using my skills to make a positive impact.

What parts of your new role are you excited about? 

I love that I am constantly learning in this position. I get to work with such a wide range of people in different roles – public defenders, experts, private attorneys, investigators, etc. – and I feel like I’m learning something new from everyone!

What challenges do you see?

As a predominately rural state, many Kansas counties don’t have enough attorneys who are interested in taking criminal defense cases – which creates an obvious challenge. I’ve been very inspired by the number of attorneys who have been more than willing to travel large distances when they’re needed, but I know this can’t be the only solution. I want to help find ways to increase our criminal defender numbers in these rural counties.

We talk a lot in our agency about the importance of public defenders having a “third thing” – i.e., an interest outside of work and family that you are passionate about. What is your third thing?  

Before the pandemic, I traveled quite a bit. I’m really itching to go on more trips again soon, and I’d love to travel to every US state!

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Welcome Emily — we’re so happy to have you join us!