Advocating for Queer Clients

Queer clients face distinct and complex challenges within the criminal legal system. Now more than ever, it’s important to understand their lived experiences within the larger context of the historical criminalization of queer people, the biases they continue to encounter, and the conditions they endure while incarcerated. Guided by experienced practitioners from the Gender and Sexuality Capital Resource Center (GSCRC) at Phillips Black, Inc., this webinar will examine the components of a thorough and effective mitigation investigation when advocating for queer clients. 

This webinar will be recorded. Click here to register. 

CLE credits are not available for this seminar; however, a letter of attendance will be provided upon request to Mary Roberts at [email protected].

Check out the GSCRC website to learn more about how their team provides direct representation, consultation and resources to defense teams.

For additional information from our Resource Library, please see the webinar recording Representing Transgender and Non-Binary Clients

Presenter Bios

Monnette Blue

Monnette Blue is an Associate Mitigation Specialist at Phillips Black, Inc. She received her master’s degree in paralegal studies at Webster University in Kirkwood, Missouri, and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. She has worked with death, non-death, and juvenile cases for over a decade. Monnette has been instrumental in creating DEI conversations during her tenure at the Missouri State Public Defender’s office, including being Chairperson of the People of Color ERG group, DEI committee, and training advocacy hiring team. Monnette has spoken at Women’s Retreats about the art of self-advocacy at work and in everyday life. Monnette is a member of the Black Public Defender’s Association, National Association of Public Defense, and mentee turned Mentor of the Scharlette Holdman Mitigation Program. Monnette sits on the board of the historical Fox Park Neighborhood Association and Family Resource and Community Connections, Inc., member of the Community Advisory Group of city of St. Louis Sustainability and climate plan committee. Monnette sat on the Professional Organization of African American Women board for 7 years and is an advocate at Missouri Against Death Penalty rallies and vigils. Outside of community outreach presence and fighting for justice in legislation, Monnette is a mother of 2 adult children and a fur grandmother of 2.

Erin McCallon

Erin McCallon is a paralegal at Phillips Black, Inc. She received her degree from the University of California, Berkeley in Political Science and Human Rights and has been working at Phillips Black since July of 2023 assisting various case teams during the post-conviction process providing both administrative and substantive case support.

Nathalie Greenfield

Nathalie Greenfield is an associate attorney and mitigation specialist at Phillips Black, Inc. She has represented women facing the death penalty across the US and in sub-Saharan Africa, working in state, federal, and international courts. Ms. Greenfield has expertise in women and gender nonconforming people’s capital cases, a topic on which she publishes, teaches, and trains advocates in the US and internationally. She is a researcher with the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide and she consults on international cases through Reprieve.