Andrew Haughey

The Harriet Bailey Conn Award honors public defenders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the field and resilience in overcoming personal and professional challenges to continue serving those who need them most. This year, that award goes to Andrew Haughey of Dubois County.

Andrew launched his solo law firm in April 2025, dedicating it primarily to representing indigent clients in CHINS matters in a part of Indiana where access to competent public defense is genuinely scarce. Working in a rural legal desert means limited resources, minimal mentorship networks, and high emotional stakes — and Andrew has met those challenges with intentionality and perseverance. He has done so while navigating the very real personal demands of a young family, including his wife’s decision to leave her career to provide care for their two-year-old son so that Andrew can continue his work in the community.

Andrew’s application reflected a clear-eyed understanding of why this work matters: in his county, if he doesn’t show up for his clients, often no one else will. The Harriet Bailey Conn Award will support his attendance at IPDC’s Annual Update, helping him stay connected to the broader public defense community and continue building the skills his clients depend on.

Christy Lay-Mumin

Christy Lay-Mumin serves as a Deputy Public Defender with the Clark County Public Defender Office, where the bulk of her caseload is major felony work, alongside a meaningful share of conflict juvenile and CPS matters. Christy will use her Professional Development Award to attend the National Child Welfare Law Conference, hosted by the National Association of Counsel for Children.

The conference focuses on the distinctive issues that arise in child welfare cases and the skills needed to ensure every party — parent and child alike — has zealous legal advocacy. With Clark County’s training budget stretched thin across a growing in-house office, this scholarship directly offsets the cost of attendance and travel, making it possible for Christy to bring stronger advocacy and sharper skills back to the families and children who depend on her.

Cora Lulling

Cora Lulling was sworn in to the bar in 2025 and is already doing the hard work of criminal defense as a Deputy Public Defender in Allen County, where more than 75% of her caseload involves adult criminal matters. Cora plans to attend IPDC’s own Trial Practice Institute — a four-day intensive designed to build the trial skills that public defenders need to be truly zealous advocates.

Cora’s application was candid and compelling: she finds herself setting cases for trial and wants the training and confidence to do that work at the highest possible level for her clients. That kind of self-awareness and commitment to excellence this early in a career is exactly what these scholarships are designed to encourage and reward.