Celeste Kinney Email & Phone Number

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Drafted appellate briefs following trial convictions and post-conviction petition dismissals in cases ranging from shoplifting to first-degree murderAppeared before the Illinois Court of Appeals for oral argumentsResearched legal issues, including Rule 404(b) evidence, unlawful search and seizure, juvenile sentencing, Miranda violations, ineffective assistance of counsel, expert witness testimony, conflicts of interest, jury instructions, excessive sentencing, and sufficiency of the evidence Reviewed trial transcripts and trial records ranging from 150 pages to over 2,000 pages in length

Crystal Lake, Il

Completed real estate closings; represented husbands and wives through the divorce process, including filing for divorce and litigating post-decree family law matters; conducted evidentiary hearings and trial; drafted comprehensive estate plans; defended against foreclosure proceedings and negotiated with mortgage companies for loan modifications

Represented indigent clients charged with felonies and misdemeanors from simple shoplifting and drug possession to complex second degree murder and sexual assaultAppeared on clients' behalves in front of the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Maricopa County Superior Court for felony and misdemeanors trials and evidentiary hearingsResearched and litigated at the trial court level and appellate level, including filing a Petition for Review before the Arizona Supreme CourtArgued substantive motions in the following areas: competency, illegal search and seizure, Rule 404(c), severance, remand for a new probable cause determination, change in release conditions, evidence exclusion before trial, voluntariness, and Miranda violationsSupervised full-time legal externsTaught training classes to new attorneys in areas regarding suppression hearings and cross examinationConsulted and retained experts in witness misidentification, competency, and adolescent medical findingsCompleted extensive training on homicide cases, sex crimes, trial preparation, pretrial litigation, and ethics

Drafted judicial opinions, assisted judge with legal research and analysis, reviewed pleadings, explained courtroom procedure, entered legal data into the Integrated Court Information System, prepared daily files.

University Of Arkansas

Researched and gathered records for habeas corpus petitions on behalf of inmates eligible for relief under the recent United States Supreme Court decisions Miller v. Alabama and Jackson v. Hobbs.

University Of Arkansas

Represented individuals facing misdemeanor charges in the juvenile system from the arraignment hearing through the conclusion of their case

Fayetteville, Ar

Observed every stage of a federal criminal case from the initial in-custody client interview to the sentencing hearing and through the appealRepresented defendant in district court for a change of plea as a Rule XV Student AttorneyResearched and drafted an appellate brief filed with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which the Court found in favor of the Appellant in a published opinion

Little Rock, Ar

Researched and drafted memorandums and motionsReviewed medical records and prepared file summariesAttended depositions and drafted deposition summary letters for clients

Juris Doctor

Activities and Societies: Phi Alpha Delta Member, Trial Competition Sweet 16 Finalist, Client Advocacy Competition Participant, Board.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science, Minor In Legal Studies

Activities and Societies: Kappa Kappa Gamma Member, Mortarboard Member, Gamma Beta Phi