How do you defend a client who you know is guilty? What’s it like to sit opposite a murderer? In answering these questions and more, criminal defence lawyer Kathleen Heath challenges some of the misconceptions that we hold about our criminal justice system, and challenges us to respond with greater compassion to those who have, or are alleged to have, committed crimes. Kathleen is a criminal defence lawyer at the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (ALSWA), and aspires to help her clients’ stories be told in the courtroom and beyond. She often appears in the Children’s Court, representing children accused of a crime, many of whom have been removed from their families and are in the care of the State. Kathleen received her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney, where she graduated with the University Medal in Law. With the help of a Fulbright Scholarship, she completed her Master of Laws at Harvard University, focusing on criminal justice policy. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
