Restorative Justice (2022 Criminal Law Symposium Session)

Anthony Mariani

Judge at Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County

Judge Mariani was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in 2005 and has served in its criminal division since 2006. He presides over an individual calendar of criminal cases and has been designated to hear all ACT 33 cases involving juveniles charged in adult criminal court.

Branden Albaugh, Esq.

Deputy Chief Law Clerk at Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Branden Albaugh is the Deputy Chief Law Clerk for Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dougherty and an adjunct professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law, teaching Appellate Advocacy. He graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2013.

Carolyn Nichols

Judge at Pennsylvania Superior Court

Judge Carolyn H. Nichols was elected to the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2017 and previously served as a judge in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. She is involved in initiatives promoting positive reentry to prevent recidivism and conducts CLE and CJE programs.

David Rudovsky, Esq.

Donna Jones

Founding Pastor at Cookman Beloved Community Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Donna Lawrence Jones currently serves as founding pastor of the Cookman Beloved Community Baptist Church. Prior to 2011, she served for 18 years as Sr. Pastor of Cookman United Methodist Church. Both congregations have been very active locally, nationally and internationally as disciples of Jesus Christ in the areas of prophetic witness, education, and restorative justice. Rev. Jones has been a public policy advocate in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., on issues related economic justice, education, and restorative practices for juveniles “touched” by the criminal system. Rev. Jones currently serves on the ministerial staff of the White Rock Baptist Church, Chair of the Philadelphia Faith-Based Reentry Coalition, and as a member of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity. Rev. Jones holds a Doctor of Ministry in Renewal of the Church for Mission from Palmer Theological Seminary, an M.Div. from Lutheran Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Biology from Temple University.

Jalila Jefferson-Bullock, M.A., J.D.

Associate Professor at Duquesne University School of Law

Prof. Jefferson-Bullock is an Associate Professor at Duquesne University School of Law, teaching Constitutional Law and Race and American Law. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her research interests include constitutional law, criminal law, and civil rights.

Joanna Kunz, Esq.

Appellate Litigator

Ms. Kunz is an appellate litigator handling criminal appeals in Pennsylvania courts, with experience in complex commercial litigation and as a federal law clerk. She received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law.

Jody Dodd

Restorative Justice Facilitator at Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office

Jody Dodd has been a life-long activist working on human rights, environmental, and social justice issues with many people and organizations across the US and the world. In Texas, she provided non-violence and conflict resolution/mediation trainings to numerous grassroots activists and non-profit and state agencies. She moved to Philadelphia from Texas in 2000 to work for Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s US Section office. There, she focused on International Treaties on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Women, Peace and Security. This included presentations to the United Nations and collaborating with NGOs around the world on peace and reconciliation. For the past 30 years, she has worked providing legal support for activists in Philly and across the country, including Know Your Rights trainings and as a legal observer for demonstrations. She served on American Friends Service Committee’s Criminal Justice Task Force for 5 years where their Task Force developed some of the materials used in Restorative Justice practices across the country, and as a part of their national board’s Peace Building Unit for 8 years. From 2008-2017, she worked for Krasner & Long as the office manager/legal worker, focusing on criminal defense, civil rights and police misconduct litigation. Since 2018, she has worked for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office as the Restorative Justice Facilitator. She developed and implemented a pre-charge Restorative Justice Program for juveniles and is currently working on developing a Restorative Justice Diversion for adults. She holds a BSW from Texas State University, and certifications in Oppression/Liberation Training, Peace and Conflict Resolution, and Mediation. Jody has 2 grown sons and three grandchildren, who are the light of her life.

Karl S. Myers, Esq.

Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice Group at Stevens & Lee

Mr. Myers is Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice Group at Stevens & Lee, with two decades of experience arguing and briefing a wide variety of appeals before the appellate courts of Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions.

Katherine Parker, Esq.