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.

Christopher Doran

Christopher Doran has been providing public defense in Jennings County for six years, with a practice that spans adult criminal matters and child welfare cases. Chris will use his Professional Development Award to attend the AllRise conference — widely recognized as the premier national gathering on addiction, mental health, and justice innovation.

For Chris, this training is directly tied to the work in front of him every day. A significant portion of his clients are navigating drug treatment and problem-solving court processes, and staying current on best practices in those areas means better, more informed advocacy for vulnerable people at critical moments in their lives. We’re glad to help make that investment possible.

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.