Major Crimes Division

Ms. McNeill found her passion for indigent criminal defense by volunteering and later interning, at the Law Office of the Public Defender while still a law student. She is a lifetime public defender and currently the Chief Assistant Public Defender of the Major Crimes Division for the Broward County Public Defender’s Office. While in law school, her skill for criminal defense was recognized by awards for excellence in Criminal Law, Trial Advocacy and Moot Court Society.  She was also a member of NSU College of Law, International Law Journal and having exhibited excellence and attaining high honors through the art of courtroom advocacy was selected to the National Member of the Order of the Barristers.  She is also a lifetime member of the National Thespian Society.   She is qualified as lead capital trial counsel in the State of Florida.  She has worked exclusively in death penalty litigation for the last 20 years.   She trains and mentors lawyers throughout the county in death penalty litigation and capital jury selection.  She is a capital trial consultant for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is faculty at The Clarence Darrow/David Baldus Death Penalty College.   She is a member of the Death Penalty Steering Committee for the State of Florida.  Her real passion is mitigation and telling her client’s story.  She has been recognized both national and internationally for her capital trial and mitigation skills.  She is a graduate of the University of Florida and NSU College of Law.   She is also a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer College and The National College of Capital Voir Dire.  Ms. McNeill coaches both a middle school and high school mock trial teams.

Member of the Florida Bar since 2001.

The Assistant Public Defenders assigned to the Major Crimes Division are responsible for handling the most serious felonies—those punishable by life imprisonment or death. In addition to handling individual case responsibilities, these highly-experienced trial attorneys mentor newer Assistant Public Defenders.

Capital litigators provide competent, effective representation in the trial and sentencing phases of criminal cases in which the prosecution seeks the death penalty. Professional standards, including those of the American Bar Association and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, dictate the extraordinary level of preparation required for effective representation in death penalty cases.