Interview with Tarra Simmons: Forging the Way for Formerly Incarcerated Lawyers

Abstract

Tarra Simmons is an American politician, lawyer, formerly incarcerated legislator, and civil rights activist for criminal justice reform. Below is the introduction I wrote for the interview in 2017:

Tarra Simmons is a magna cum laude graduate of Seattle University Law School and a Skadden Fellow with the Public Defender Association of Seattle, where she helps individuals with criminal records overcome legal barriers to housing and employment and obtain relief from legal financial obligations. Ms. Simmons was released from prison in 2013 having served nearly two years in the Washington State Department of Corrections before pursuing her legal studies. Upon graduation from law school, Tarra received awards and honors including the 2016 Legal Foundation of Washington’s Goldmark Internship, the Dean’s Medal, and the Distinguished Graduating Student Award. She is the first Seattle University student to receive the prestigious Skadden Fellowship and was selected by National Jurist as National Law Student of the Year.

While in law school, Tarra interned with public interest organizations including the Northwest Justice Project, Disability Rights Washington, the ACLU of Washington, Columbia Legal Services, and the Public Defender Association. Tarra has also served on a variety of coalitions and task forces working on policy reforms, and was recently appointed by Governor Inslee to the Washington Statewide Reentry Council, where she was elected to serve as co-chair along with King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. Governor Inslee also appointed Tarra to the Public Defense Advisory Committee. She has worked with the grassroots organizing group Civil Survival since its launch in 2015 and is currently its Executive Director.

Tarra is a sought-after speaker and has spoken at judicial conferences, Supreme Court symposia, graduations, prisons, community meetings, treatment centers, and legislative hearings.

Keywords: Formerly incarcerated lawyers