Public Defender
The rhythm of public defense
As an assistant public defender with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, Merle Damico, L’24, is a seasoned multitasker. They manage up to 150 open cases and split their time between the court and the office. Damico thrives under the pressure because of what they call the “rhythm in the chaos” — their role as the one who holds their client’s hand throughout the process.
Damico operates out of VIDC’s Fredericksburg office, handling misdemeanor and felony cases in Spotsylvania. They often begin their day in court then return to their office for client interviews and evidentiary review, a career experience they hadn’t considered until midway through law school.
“I need to be in a position where I feel like I’m moving the ball forward, even if it’s just incrementally every day.”
With their undergraduate degree in geology, Damico pursued environmental law internships, which were on the administrative side. However, they desired a position where they could work directly with the people impacted. They credit their professors — many of whom had been public defenders — and their friend and now colleague, Rachel Ranieri, L’24, with introducing them to public defense.
“I need to be in a position where I feel like I’m moving the ball forward, even if it’s just incrementally every day,” Damico said. “For public defense, every single day I’m talking to people on the client side of things, doing interviews, or directly arguing to a judge about what we think should happen.”
Their work has redefined what they consider a good outcome. While they aim for a not guilty verdict, Damico celebrates the smaller victories too, such as suspended jail time. But at the end of the day, a good outcome is one where the client feels Damico was there to listen and help.
“In the day-by-day, [the most rewarding part] is the folks who say, ‘You were an ear, you were an adviser, or you were even an educator today, and that really helped me.’”