Areas of Practice
death penalty mitigation
For more than 18 years, Mairead has worked on all phases of capital cases, from pre-trial through clemency. She specializes in investigating trauma, intellectual disability, serious mental illness, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, building life history narratives that contextualize her clients’ circumstances and humanity.
non-capital mitigation
Mairead advocates for non-capital clients, including those sentenced to life in prison as juveniles. Her work gives decision-makers crucial context and history, empowering defense attorneys to pursue reduced charges, shorter sentences, meaningful treatment, and favorable plea agreements. For clients returning to the community, she also develops reentry plans, addressing housing, employment, education, and health care.
consultation & education
Mairead consults with defense teams and mitigation specialists on complex capital and non-capital cases. She also teaches Adaptive Functioning Assessment in Mitigation Investigation, a continuing education course for social workers and mitigation specialists.