If you are a Public Defender needing assistance in a matter in which you are appointed counsel, please visit our Research Help page or call 317-232-5505.
Meet the staff of IPDC | |||
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 | Bernice CorleyExecutive Director | bcorley@pdc.in.gov317-232-2321Bernice has served as Executive Director of the Indiana Public Defender Council since 2018. She has energized the agency's mission to "improve legal representation provided at public expense in state courts in Indiana" by cultivating a team that combines legal expertise with a genuine passion for public defense work and the clients served. Under Bernice's leadership, IPDC has leveraged technology to reach 1,600 attorneys statewide, ensuring each has access to expanded services that can be conveniently utilized from anywhere in Indiana. These high-quality resources include training and CLE opportunities that are free to low-cost, relevant, and responsive to the evolving needs of public defenders. Before her role at the Council, Bernice served as a Deputy Public Defender for Marion County, gaining valuable experience as both a trial attorney and appellate counsel. Her policy development expertise was honed while serving as Caucus Counsel for the Indiana Senate and House of Representatives. Bernice's diverse legal background also includes positions as General Counsel for the Indiana Department of Education and Court of Appeals Clerk to the Honorable Carr Darden (retired). Bernice contributes to policy development nationally through service on the Council for State Government Justice Center Board, where she also serves as an Executive Committee member. Recognized as a 2022 Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister, Bernice actively contributes to her community through board service with the Raphael Health Center. She has also volunteered with organizations focused on affordable housing, including the Southeast Neighborhood Development Corporation and Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership. Educated at Drake University School of Law and Ball State University, Bernice harnesses her comprehensive legal background and diverse government experience to champion a more effective and equitable public defense system for all Hoosiers. | |
 | Michael MooreAssistant Executive Director | mimoore@pdc.in.gov317-233-6149Michael Moore has served as the Assistant Executive Director for the Indiana Public Defender Council since 2018. Michael has represented indigent individuals since he joined the Marion County Public Defender Agency in 1999. Michael has represented indigent individuals in criminal defense and child welfare actions including criminal appeals, major felony matters, drug charges, juvenile delinquency, and child welfare/termination of parental rights actions. From 2010 to 2013, Michael served as the supervisor for the misdemeanor division of the Marion County Public Defender Agency where he trained and mentored newly admitted attorneys. In 2013, Michael joined the Indiana Department of Education where he served as the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs. He attended McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. Prior to graduating from law school, Michael worked as an American Sign Language Interpreter and disability advocate. | |
Training & Research Staff | |||
 | Diane BlackTraining Director | dblack@pdc.in.gov317-232-3344Diane Black has been the Training Director for the Indiana Public Defender Council since September 2016. As IPDC’s Training Director, she is focused on developing and implementing high quality programming for defenders across the state. This focus includes innovative regional training programs, including wellness workshops teaching defenders healthy coping mechanisms to avoid burnout. Diane, along with colleagues Ruth Johnson and Liz Houdek, have provided wellness training to multiple stakeholder organizations, locally and nationally. Diane does outreach programming for Indiana’s universities and sits on the Advisory Committee for the Ball State Legal Studies program. Diane graduated from McKinney School of Law in 1995. | |
 | Jack KenneyDirector of Research & Publication | jkenney@pdc.in.gov317-232-5534Jack Kenney is the Research and Publications Director. Since 1994, he has enjoyed meeting IPDC members and providing assistance in all types of indigent cases and phases of litigation. Jack co-authored the 1995 edition of the Pretrial Manual as well as the Search and Seizure, Confessions, and Representing Clients with Mental Illness Handbooks. He also regularly updates IPDC's Casebank, Motions/Jury Instructions, as well as the Sentencing, Criminal Trial, and Evidence manuals. In addition to giving caselaw update presentations throughout Indiana, Jack writes a bi-monthly column for the state bar journal, Res Gestae. Before joining the Council, Jack worked in private practice in Elkhart and Indianapolis and worked for the Monroe County PD office while in law school. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated from Indiana University in 1989 and received his J.D. from I.U. School of Law, Bloomington, IN 1991. | |
 | Ruth JohnsonStaff AttorneyResearch | ruthjohnson@pdc.in.gov317-232-5516Ruth serves as a research attorney with the Indiana Public Defender Council (IPDC), providing essential research and training to public defenders throughout Indiana. Her public defense career includes representing clients in post-conviction relief proceedings and direct appeals. Ruth previously led the Appellate Division at the Marion County Public Defender Agency for ten years. Together with IPDC colleagues Diane Black and Liz Houdek, she delivers Resiliency Training statewide and nationally to help justice system professionals maintain wellbeing. | |
 | Joel WienekeStaff AttorneyResearch/Juvenile Delinquency | jwieneke@pdc.in.gov317-232-2490Joel C. Wieneke lives in Morgan County with his wife Cara, and two children. He is a former law clerk for the Honorable Judge Patricia A. Riley, and also had the pleasure of clerking one summer during law school for the Honorable Judge John G. Baker. He has served as a contract public defender with the Putnam Circuit Court and used to accept appointments through the State Public Defender's Office for trial, direct appeal, and post-conviction cases. He served two terms as a Board Member of the Indiana Public Defender Council. Currently, he is serving as the Post-Disposition Unit Coordinator for the Indiana Public Defender Council's, Juvenile Defense Project. When he is not practicing law, you can usually find him hanging with his boys, or wandering a forest. | |
 | Liz HoudekStaff AttorneyResearch | ehoudek@pdc.in.gov317-232-3459Liz Houdek is a contract research attorney for the Indiana Public Defender Council and a contract appellate attorney for the Marion County Public Defender Agency. She started her career as a public defender representing trial clients at the Marion County Public Defender Agency in 2002. In 2005, she moved to the agency's Appellate Division and represented clients on appeal full-time until 2010 and then on a contract basis. Liz graduated from Indiana University's Maurer School of Law in 2002. | |
 | Suzy St. JohnStaff AttorneyResearch | SuStjohn@pdc.in.gov317-232-5517Suzy St. John joined the Indiana Public Defender Council in 2021 as a staff attorney helping develop training materials, writing amicus briefs, and providing legal research assistance. Suzy is a part-time contract appellate attorney and adjunct professor teaching the Appellate Clinic at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, where she also earned her J.D. Suzy began her career as an Appellate Attorney with the Marion County Public Defender Agency. She has litigated hundreds of appeals before the Indiana Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Suzy's work on appeals of public intoxication convictions has received media coverage in the Indianapolis Star, The Wall Street Journal, and was even mentioned in the opening monologue of The Tonight Show. Before coming to IPDC, Suzy also spent time working as a staff attorney in the Indiana Supreme Court, where she assisted trial court judges across the state with criminal law research and jury instructions. | |
 | Julia StevensStaff AttorneyResearch | JuStevens@pdc.in.gov317-232-7162Julia Stevens is a Senior Staff Attorney at The Indiana Public Defender Council. Julia’s work at the council focuses on Child Welfare matters and At-Risk families and youth. Prior to joining IPDC, Julia worked at the Office of the Public Defender of Indiana practicing post-conviction relief. Julia began her career at the Marion County Public Defender Agency where she represented parents in CHINS/TPR matters. Julia worked for Marion County for five years. She has presented at several CLE programs and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Public Defender Council. Julia lives in Indianapolis with her fiancé and daughter and enjoys sewing and reading in her free time. | |
 | Zach StockLegislative Counsel | ZStock@pdc.in.gov(317) 234-9503After working as a staff attorney in the Indiana Senate and serving as a deputy attorney general representing the State of Indiana in criminal appeals, Zach became an appellate public defender and ultimately a member of IPDC's legislative team. He graduated from Indiana University - McKinney School of Law in 2001 and Ball State University in 1997. A lifelong, fifth-generation Hoosier, Zach lives in Carmel with his wife and three children. | |
Administrative Staff | |||
 | Suzan RistichComptroller/Financial Manager | sristich1@pdc.in.gov317-233-1201 | |
 | Juli ByrneOffice Coordinator | jbyrne1@pdc.in.gov317-234-5265 |