Kirsten Keith

I successfully filed a Marsden Motion against her. My new P.D. did with ease what she could not. I would sooner have Kanye West to host my son's bar mitzvah than have Kirsten Keith as an attorney. While I said that for a laugh, there is nothing funny about her gross incompetence which borders on willful malignancy. I had the misfortune of having her appointed as my public defender and she ignored texts, phone calls, questions, plans to meet, and caused me to miss trial dates and work, lied about sending information, suggested I plead guilty, said I could not win, knew nothing about my case, failed to submit or even look at evidence I had proving my innocence, and finally got herself fired when I filed a Marsden motion against her. She knew nothing about my case, she couldnt answer basic questions about it even on the day of when I was supposed to go to trial, she failed to submit evidence for discovery meaning it wouldnt be allowed at trial. This was the evidence I repeatedly asked her to look at as it is the same evidence that got my case dismissed by a competent attorney. She lied to me several times and told me she would send me discovery so I would know anything about my case. She only did so hours before the trial. She insisted that not only was there no possibility of the case being dismissed but that the DA would offer no deal and if I went to trial it would be worse. She repeated over and over again that I must take the deal. I dont know if she is just too incompetent to do what a good lawyer managed to do, or if she cared too little to try. I filed and won a Marsden Motion against her. The judge called her behavior a violation of trust and they gave me a good upgrade/replacement public defender. He managed to get my case dismissed with ease. Kirsten Keith told me I would lose and to take a terrible plea. A good attorney was able to get dismissed. Clearly the embarrassment of having a marsden motion against her and having a colleague easily get my case dismissed was the better option in her mind than having to spend a few moment trying to do her job. Maybe she is just so woefully inadequate that is incapable of helping anyone. Those seem to be the only choices I can see. I called around looking for attorneys to hire before I had her replaced with another public defender, and many of the attorneys asked who I had for a P.D. and when I mentioned Kirsten Keith they would give a pause..a sigh.. change tone.. and use phrases like 'very busy', 'an aquired taste', 'spread too thin', 'preoccupied' and other euphemistic expressions that I assume are used to convey that she is not well respected amongst her peers. She has a lifeless, wooden affect to her words and a forced tone when having to convey things that normal people would do with emotions. Almost like a terrible actress in a part she doesnt understand. The only emotion that seemed genuine from her was a sense of annoyance in having to do her job, and a definite disappointment when she had the judge grant the Marsden Motion. Marsden motions are rarely granted and only done so when a public defender fails spectacularly in their role in helping their client. If you are in the unfortunate position of being stuck with her as a public defender here is my advice: document everything you can and do not be afraid to file a Marsden motion when she fails to do her basic duties. I was afraid that filing one would be dismissed and would put me in the disfavor of the court. Fortunately her incompetence speaks for itself and her reputation preceeds her. Filing a marsden motion against her was the best thing I could have done.