The Daily Bulletin

The Buffalo State Political Science and Public Administration Department closes its spring 2023 Public Service Lecture Series with a talk by Kaitlyn Marinelli, a criminal defense attorney with the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo Inc., on Wednesday, May 3, from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. in Caudell Hall 123. She will speak about the role of women as advocates in the public arena.

Ms. Marinelli holds a juris doctor from New England Law Boston (2017). She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science as well as minors in legal studies and history from SUNY Buffalo State University, cum laude, in 2014. She served as a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, the Buffalo State Mock Trial Association (2011–2014), and the SUNY Model European Union Simulation (2013–2014).

Ms. Marinelli’s passion for criminal law began with her participation in the American Mock Trial Association while at SUNY Buffalo State. While in law school, she was an active member of the Criminal Justice Project, which pursues litigation, legislation, education, and policy reform to make the criminal justice system fairer for low-income individuals. She was involved in the Criminal Community Outreach Program (CCOP) and the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) program. The CCOP program included teaching juvenile detainees trial skills and how to prepare for a criminal trial. Learning about the criminal justice process helped teach basic evidence and criminal procedure concepts. Ms. Marinelli also participated in the CORI initiative. Thousands of individuals in the Boston area carry criminal records, which can prevent them from obtaining employment, housing, and financial services. CORI assists individuals with sealing their criminal records. Ms. Marinelli was able to provide invaluable opportunities to clients for gaining better employment, obtaining housing, and positively progressing into society.

As a lifelong resident of Buffalo, Ms. Marinelli is dedicated to defending those in her community. She joined the Legal Aid Bureau in 2019 and is responsible for representing indigent people charged with offenses in the City of Buffalo. She works diligently to ensure that constitutional and legal rights for her clients are protected.