Lenora Easter has dedicated her entire professional career to public service, advocating for the constitutional rights of clients during some of the most challenging times of their lives. As the creator of the Early Defense Team at the Bronx Defenders, Lenora understands the impact of early intervention in criminal cases.

The years she’s spent as a public defender in Florida and New York, inspired her to run for office, determined to redefine how our county approaches public defense.

As the Public Defender of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Orange and Osceola County, Lenora will bring her decades worth of experience in Criminal Law and the multi-dimensional skillset she acquired along the way to fight for the rights of those who are often overlooked by the justice system.

Collaborative  Defense

• Lenora understands that Collaborative defense begins with a commitment to addressing clients’ most pressing legal needs in many aspects. A criminal charge alone can lead to a multitude of consequences triggering unexpected collateral damage in a clients life. Every member of Orange and Osceola county deserves an attorney that will listen to their individual needs and develop creative solutions and defenses that address the complex web legal issues that can arise from justice involvement. As Public Defender, Lenora is committed to being champion for Collaborative Defense by doing the following:
• Create a Holistic Unit comprised of social workers, advocates, investigators and interns to support the assistant public defender with  the wrap around needs of clients   
• Creating a Policy Department that will Focus on Legislative Matters that affect Our Young Adult and adult 

Community Engagement 

• While Public Defenders are a necessary component of ensuring that our most vulnerable communities have access to resources that will keep them out of the criminal legal system, Lenora knows that advocacy in the courtroom is just the tip of the iceberg. Effective advocacy continues with authentic community engagement. As Public Defender of the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Orange and Osceola County, Lenora is committed to being out in the neighborhood, meeting community members and listening to the issues on the ground, deepening relationships with key stakeholders and building trust along the way. This includes:
• Know Your Rights Informationals
• Community Roundtable Discussions on Public Safety
  

Financial Management

Lenora understands that an efficient financial plan is a key complement in developing a strong Public Defenders office. On day one, Lenora plans to analyze current office resources for strengths and areas for growth for clients,community members and staff. This is includes utilizing the budget to leverage grants and philanthropic support to support office wide professional development opportunities.

• Opportunities include:
• National conferences 
• Management and Supervisory Trainings