From August 6-9, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Cadman, a partner at Brown, Goldstein & Levy and leading criminal defense attorney, served as a faculty member at the 2024 Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania (PDAP) annual Bring Your Own Case Trial Skills Conference. There, Jacqui delivered a powerful plenary presentation on storytelling through opening statements and closing arguments. She gave a mock opening statement based on the conference hypothetical fact pattern, which was described by audience members as “moving” and “exceptional.” Jacqui also provided one on one feedback to participants about their own case theories, direct examinations and closing arguments. Known for her courtroom expertise, Jacqui is a highly sought-after lecturer, trainer, and speaker. She has played a pivotal role in organizing and leading numerous skills-based training sessions for criminal and civil practitioners, investigators, social workers, and international judicial delegations.
Jacqui began her career in Pennsylvania at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. During her time there, she represented people charged with a wide range of criminal offenses, ranging from DUIs and gun and drug offenses to armed robberies, kidnapping and attempted murder charges. Her exceptional litigation skills quickly set her apart, leading to her promotion to a supervisory role within the organization.
Following her tenure in Pennsylvania, Jacqui spent over twelve years at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) – widely regarded as the best trial public defender office in the country. During her time at PDS, she represented countless people at the pre-trial and trial level.
Jacqui was thrilled to return to Pennsylvania, where her career began, to teach for PDAP and share the extensive experience and skills she has acquired over the years with fellow public defenders and advocates. PDAP is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all individuals accused of a crime, regardless of their financial status, receive not just competent representation, but excellent representation. Not every public defender’s office in Pennsylvania can afford a training unit and thus PDAP steps into that breach, to train defenders, to advocate for issues that matter, and to build community. As a passionate criminal defense lawyer, civil rights advocate and legal educator, Jacqui is committed to training and mentoring the next generation of public interest lawyers and was more than thrilled to serve as a faculty member at this very important conference.
Learn more about Jacqueline Cadman here.
Founded in 1982, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a law firm based in Baltimore, Maryland, with an office in Washington, DC. The firm is nationally recognized in a wide variety of practice areas, including complex civil and commercial litigation, civil rights, health care, family law, and criminal defense. Above all else, Brown, Goldstein & Levy is a client-centered law firm that brings decades of experience and passionate, effective advocacy to your fight for justice.