Twelve New Public Defenders Sworn-In as Attorneys
Published on October 20, 2025
Newest Employees Joined the Office in August as Law Clerks
On Friday, October 17, the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender swore in 12 new attorneys. All 12 members of the Public Defenders Clerks Class passed the bar exam administered in July and will now serve in the office as attorneys.
“Congratulations to these newly barred attorneys! And thank you to this new class for bringing your talents to Allegheny County. Our Public Defenders Office is filled with excellent legal talent and we’re excited to continue to grow the ranks of this office,” said County Executive Innamorato.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht presided over the ceremony and granted all 12 motions for admission to the bar of Pennsylvania, including the motions to admit Justice Wecht’s former summer law clerk and a former student of his class at Duquesne Kline Law.
Interim Chief Public Defender Andy Howard, who spoke at the swearing in, said: “Doing this work is devastating, exhausting, and nerve-wracking; but it is a privilege. It’s a privilege to earn the trust of someone who has no reason to trust you and then do right by their trust.”
Interim Chief Howard and Director of Policy and Training Stacey Stiener welcomed the 12 new attorneys to the practice of law, and to celebrate all who answer the call to pursue the noble responsibility of indigent defense.
The 12 new attorneys joining the Public Defender’s Office are:
Benjamin Blanks is from Greenville, South Carolina. They attended Wake Forest University where they received their undergraduate degree in Political Science. They graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Jeffery Chmay is from Sewickley, Pennsylvania. They attended Duquesne University where they completed their undergraduate studies in Music Education. He previously worked as a music educator prior to attending and graduating from Duquesne Kline School of Law.
Natalie Flores-Semyonova is from Litchfield Park, Arizona. They completed their undergraduate degree in Psychology at Swarthmore College and their juris doctorate at Georgetown University.
Hannah Florey is from Jeanette, Pennsylvania. They completed their undergraduate studies in English Literature and their Juris Doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh.
John McFarlane is from Alexandria, Virginia. They completed their undergraduate degree with dual majors in Psychology and Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. They received their law degree from Duquesne Kline Law.
Erin Fullerton is from Butler, Pennsylvania. They completed their degree in Biology at the University of Pittsburgh, and their law studies at Georgetown University.
Samantha James is from McMurray, Pennsylvania. They completed their undergraduate studies with dual majors in Psychology and Political Science and their law degree at Duquesne University.
Yang Lan is from Ontario, Canada. They completed their undergraduate degree in Sustainability at McGill University. They completed their juris doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh.
Katarina Montoro is from Scranton, Pennsylvania. They completed their undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton majoring in Political Science. They completed their law studies at Duquesne Kline Law.
Christian Palmer is from Clarksburg, West Virginia. They completed their undergraduate degree in Film Studies at the University of Southern California. They graduated from their legal studies from Duquesne Kline Law.
Grace Ruane is from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. They received their undergraduate degree in History of Loyola University of Chicago, and their law degree from Duquesne Kline Law.
Katherine Staley is from Hickory Pennsylvania. They attended the Pennsylvania State University where they received their undergraduate degree in Criminology. The received their juris doctorate from Duquesne Kline Law.
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