The Ian Yankwitt Memorial Fund
The Ian Yankwitt Memorial Fund was created in 2021 in honor of Gideon's Promise Board Member, Ian Yankwitt. This scholarship offers participants financial funds for 3 years during our Future Indigent Defense Leaders Program. Ian Yankwitt was deeply committed to equal justice for all. In particular, his work as a public defender gave Ian a connection to people in need and a hand in improving their experience in the criminal justice system. When Ian left the Federal Defenders, he left behind a piece of his soul. His obligation to provide for his family became paramount when his son, Casey, was diagnosed with autism, but Ian’s deep need to “do good” in the world continued. When he was introduced to Gideon’s Promise, Ian found a way to continue making his contribution to the betterment of the criminal justice system. He was passionate about the work of Gideon’s Promise and committed to supporting their mission. Through his final days, Ian pondered whether he had done enough “good” in the world.


Meet the Community
Ian Yankwitt Scholarship Recipients
These dynamic lawyers were because they exemplified ..

Vera Attaway
District 3A Pitt County Public Defender's Office
North Carolina Central University

Dominique Barile
Mecklenburg Pubic Defenders
St. Thomas University

Akruti Chandrayya
Shelby County Public Defender's Office
University of California, Los Angeles

Darren Chester
North Carolina Wake County Public Defender's Office
Charlotte School of Law

Margaret Greenway
Knox County Public Defender Community Law Office
University of Tennessee

Halle Hammond
Knox County Public Defender Community Law Office

Christopher Harper
Office of the Public Defender for Montgomery County
University of Michigan

Nathan Hartman
Luzerne County Public Defender
George Washington University School of Law

Abigail Hester
Mecklenburg Public Defenders
The University of Michigan

Deanna Hobbs
Lancaster County Public Defender's Office
University of Nebraska

Hunter Holtzclaw
North Carolina Wake County Public Defender's Office
Campbell University

Catherine (Cat) Kearney
Orleans Public Defender
University of Pennsylvania

Aiesha Krause-Lee
Center for Death Penalty Litigation/Indigent Defense Services (NC)
New York University

Sarah Langer
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
Washington University

Courtney Lewis
Office of Capital and Forensic Writs (TIDC)
Penn State Dickinson Law

Jacob Margolis
Cuyahoga County Public Defender Office
Cleveland State University

Kate McMurchie
Metropolitan Public Defenders (Portland, OR)
New York University

Rasheed. Merrell
Office of the Fulton County Public Defender - Atlanta Judicial Circuit
Mercer University

Kaitlynn (Katie) Morford
Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office
Cleveland State University

Ashley Needham
Metropolitan Public Defenders (Portland, OR)
Lewis & Clark Law School

Kyle Obiora
Office of the Stone Mountain Circuit Public Defender (Dekalb County)
Emory University

Rasahn Perry
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
University of Kansas

Elizabeth Ponder
Carteret County Public Defenders Office
Suffolk University

Elana Samuels
Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy
University of Tennessee

Dillon Sharpe
Mecklenburg Public Defenders
North Carolina Central University

Marisa Skillings
Knox County Public Defender's Community Law Office
Harvard Law School

Demetria Stuart
Chatham County Public Defender's Office - North Carolina District 15B
North Carolina Central University

Darceny Winston
Hamilton County Public Defender
University of Cincinnati

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Wolozin
Metropolitan Public Defenders (Portland, OR)
New York University

Protecting This Promise
You don't have to be a public defender to protect the promise of zealous counsel for all. Your monthly contribution--no matter the amount--will directly impact the fate of a client accused of a crime, who didn't know they needed you.