Deirdre is one of the most prominent and well-regarded criminal defense lawyers of her generation.  A highly experienced, relentless and compassionate trial and appellate lawyer, she spent the last two decades as a federal public defender, directly representing hundreds of people charged with federal crimes, and supervising the representation of thousands more in her role as Attorney-in-Charge of the Federal Defenders of the Eastern District of New York.  Her mission is to help people in their darkest moments and to compel prosecutors and judges alike to treat her clients with fairness and grace.

Deirdre uses her top-notch credentials – including as a Supreme Court clerk for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a frequent speaker at law schools around the country – in service of her clients.  Her numerous acquittals and appellate victories, as well as her high-profile advocacy on conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center and sentencing policy, make her a leader in the New York criminal defense community.

At Federal Defenders, Deirdre served as lead or co-counsel in dozens of federal trials and appeals, spanning a wide range of charges, including terrorism, sex trafficking, threats to kill the President, seditious conspiracy, obstruction of justice, mail, wire and healthcare fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, firearms, racketeering, robbery, kidnapping, piracy, and a variety of misdemeanors and petty offenses.  For over five years, she has worked with pro bono counsel on a civil lawsuit fighting to provide meaningful access to counsel for federal pre-trial detainees at the Metropolitan Detention Center.  She is known for her ability to win release on bail, suppression of evidence, and dismissal of charges pre-trial, because of her tireless and persuasive pre-trial motion practice.  At trial, she “puts on a clinic,” in the words of one federal judge, while winning over jurors and witnesses alike with her warmth and level of preparedness.  At sentencings, she gently but inexorably compels judges to see her clients’ capacity for redemption.  On appeal, she spots winning issues buried deep in the trial record and crafts compelling arguments.  She loves to work with other advocates – lawyers and non-lawyers – for reform.

Deirdre is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.  She is the recipient of numerous professional honors and awards, including a 2025 Commendation from the Justice Institute for her commitment to civic education, the 2022 Norman S. Ostrow Award from the New York Council of Defense Lawyers, the 2019 Champion of the Community Award from Gideon’s Promise, and the 2015 Changemaker Award from Atlas DIY.  City & State New York has named Deirdre to the “Law Power 100” list since 2021.

Deirdre left Federal Defenders and joined Sher Tremonte so that she can affirmatively sue to enforce the civil and constitutional rights of individuals and organizations, as well as representing individuals across the country charged with criminal or immigration offenses based on their political stance or identity.