MEET THE TEAM

Robert J. Ruffner – Director

Robert Joseph Ruffner grew up in New England and is a graduate of Clark University (’92). Rob attended Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (’96) where, to no one’s surprise, he was Managing Editor of the Devil’s Advocate. After a short stint as a defense attorney Rob worked as a prosecutor in St. Louis, Missouri and Portland, Maine. In 2001 Rob returned to his true calling, criticizing the State Criminal Defense, forming his own practice to focus exclusively on criminal (almost entirely indigent) defense. 

A Life Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Rob is also member of the Maine State Bar Association and Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and was the recipient of the 2009 MACDL, Unsung Hero Award for “highest level of commitment, passion and tireless pursuit of justice in the representation of indigent defendants”. 

Rob is never far from his three senior Labrador Retriever partners, Luke (8), Gideon (3) and Flynne (6 months). When he isn’t Monday morning quarterbacking the Commission during public comment or poking the State in the eye with a stick, Rob spends as much time as possible with Luke, Gideon and Flynne in a tent in the remote woods of Vermont, from where he “Zooms” back to court in Maine … and pokes the State a little more. 

Annie E. Greenbaum – Attorney

Annie graduated from the University of Southern Maine in Portland earning a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology. She earned her J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2016. During her time at Maine Law, she was a student attorney with the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic, where she worked on a number of civil and criminal matters. She also worked as a trial assistant at the criminal defense firm of Strike, Gonzales, & Butler Bailey before joining MIDC. 


Annie has experience handling a wide range of criminal matters from misdemeanor to serious felony charges. She believes every client is entitled to a strong, thoughtful defense, regardless of their circumstances. She takes the time to understand each client’s story to ensure they are heard, respected, and meaningfully involved in their defense. 

Robert (Bob) C. LeBrasseur – Attorney

“What About Bob?” (1991 2023)- LeBrasseur plays the roll of Bob, a mentally unstable attorney who follows his egotistical director, Rob Ruffner, on a quixotic campaign to reform Maine’s Indigent Defense System. When Bob befriends the other members of MIDC, Bob’s problems push the director over the edge.

Rob tries to get Bob to leave; the trouble is, everyone loves Bob. As his oblivious new attorney makes himself at home, Rob loses his professional composure and, before long, may be ready for the loony bin himself.

Seriously, Attorney Robert “Bob” C. LeBrasseur is the youngest of 5 children. He was a military brat and traveled the world with his parents growing up. His parents returned home to Maine when they retired from the military. Bob earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in history, summa cum laude, from St. Joseph’s College in 1994. He graduated from the University Of Maine School Of Law in 1997 with the Judge Gignoux Appellate Advocacy Award. Bob was a member of the Moot Court Board and worked as a student attorney with the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office during law school. Upon graduating from law school, Bob worked as an associate attorney for a small general practice firm. His practice area focused on criminal defense, family law, and general litigation. He opened his own law firm in July of 2000 practicing solely as a criminal defense attorney where he conducted dozens of jury trials and hearings. The Maine Department of Attorney General hired Attorney LeBrasseur in 2002 as the York County Drug Prosecutor where he appeared in court daily prosecuting drug offenses and worked closely with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA). He was also an instructor at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Attorney LeBrasseur joined the Maine office of Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies at the Law Offices of Frederick C. Moore where his practice concentrated on general liability and trial work. He defended multinational corporations and individuals insured with Liberty Mutual Insurance Companies. Subsequently, Attorney LeBrasseur returned to his true passion for criminal defense forming his own firm. Bob worked as a hearing examiner for the Maine Secretary of State prior to joining the Maine Indigent Defense Center in 2023. Bob has been involved in the criminal justice system for over 25 years as a prosecutor, defense attorney, and hearing examiner. For 21 of those years, his practice focused almost exclusively on criminal defense. He was 1 of 3 defense bar representatives for the creation of the Unified Criminal Docket in Cumberland County, served as defense counsel for Project Exodus (Maine’s first drug court), and served as Resource Counsel for the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services in Cumberland County. He also served as a Commissioner for the Maine Commission on Indigent Legal Services. Bob lives in central Maine and often can be found in the Maine and New Hampshire woods hiking and on the water kayaking with his dogs by his side.

Ashley L. Slaton – Attorney

Attorney Slaton is 2019 graduate of Maine Law and is a tireless defender focused on her clients. So focused she does not have time to write a blurb about herself despite repeated requests.

Jenna L. Zawislak – Attorney

Jenna is a magna cum laude graduate of Manhattan College earning her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Political Science in 2019. She then earned her J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 2022, where she was awarded a Pro Bono Service Award for her many hours of service to the local community. While in law school, she worked several legal and non-legal jobs including as a legal intern with Webb Law Firm, where she assisted with misdemeanor and felony criminal cases. Jenna also served as the 2021 Cushman D. Anthony Fellow in the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic’s Youth Justice Clinic where she represented youth in juvenile and education matters as well as young adults in criminal matters. It was in this role that she found her passion for criminal defense, especially in youth defense which led her to joining the Maine Indigent Defense Center to continue doing this work.

Jenna lives in southern Maine where she never fails to appreciate living on the coast. She loves reading on the beach, kayaking and hiking with her friends. She is a Jersey girl at heart and keeps her roots alive by searching for the best cannolis and bagels (answer = Maples) Maine has to offer.

Devens Hamlen – Attorney

After graduating from Maine Law, Devens (Devie) went to work for the New Hampshire Public Defender. In that role, he was one of the original members of the “Special Defender Office” and became a senior staff attorney. After close to 9 years at NHPD, he returned to Maine and opened a law office which focused almost exclusively on indigent defense. In addition to having over 100 jury trials and countless bench trials, Devie attended a number of national trainings including three through the National Criminal Defense College.

Since 2023, in partnership with MCILS, Devie has turned his attention to training and mentoring MCILS rostered lawyers.

Kate E. Marshall – Attorney

Attorney Marshall (she/her) joined the firm in August 2023 after slightly more than a decade of service as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of Maine. Prior to her career in criminal law, she earned degrees from the University of New Hampshire, Drake University, and the University of Maine School of Law. When not working in the office in the warmer months, she’s working on bringing her golf handicap down, or at least not driving it up (pun intended). 

Emily H. Goulette – Director of Policy and Development

Emily is a Maine native and 2019 graduate of Colby College. Emily then earned her J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law (2023) where she worked in Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic’s Youth Justice Clinic representing youth in criminal and education matters. Emily assisted in re-instituting Maine Law’s chapter of the Student Animal League Defense Fund while simultaneously working for the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. Emily also interned for Webb Law Firm during law school, assisting on misdemeanor and felony cases. Before joining the Maine Indigent Defense Center, Emily advocated for Maine’s homeless population supporting youth and their families through Homeless Youth Services at the Opportunity Alliance in South Portland, ME.

Emily currently lives in Hollis, ME with her horse (Chevy) and problem-causing dog and cat (Stanley and Lennie, respectively).

Ali L. Brauner – ATTORNEY

Ali grew up traveling with her family but landed in Maine with her husband and three cats in 2018. After earning her undergraduate degree from Smith College, Ali spent many years doing anti-poverty work in nonprofits across Massachusetts and Maine advocating for fair housing and economic justice. These experiences led Ali to the University of Maine Law School at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she graduate cum laude with a distinction for completing over 100 pro bono service hours. Her commitment to criminal defense work grew out of her experiences working with people most effected by the unjust systems and is thrilled to be working at the Maine Indigent Defense Center alongside so many incredible, respected, and experience criminal defense attorneys. 
 
When she’s not working, Ali spends her time visiting with friends, exploring the many nooks and crannies of the state of Maine, and reading, watching, and listening to all things horror. She frequently falls asleep reading horror short stories posted on various online forums. Her three furbabies— Chopper, Gus, and Dahlia— were named Best Cats in the Universe by A Real Magazine and are slated to hold this title forever.  

Leslie S.E. Wilson – Attorney

Prior to living in Maine, Leslie lived in many places such as California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Ireland, and France. For college, she attended Northeastern University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After college, she worked as a paralegal for two years before deciding to pursue law school. She decided to attend the University of Maine School of Law and from then on Maine became her home. 

Post-law school and passage of the bar, Leslie worked for a short time in Massachusetts as an assistant district attorney in Middlesex County before returning to Maine. Once back in Maine, she worked as an assistant district attorney in Oxford County handling the domestic violence and sex crimes caseload. In this role, she learned the value of creative thinking around sentencing with the purpose of crime prevention. This led her to her role now.

Outside of the office, Leslie spends time with her beloved dog, Dora, and cats, Ken, Ernie, and Ivy, as well as with her human loved ones.

SUNNY ANDERSEN - ATTORNEY

Sara, who goes by Sunny which is a nickname from her grandfather, grew up in Eastern Pennsylvania in a tight-knit Italian American family. Sunny graduated from Drew University in New Jersey with her Bachelor's degree in History and a minor in American Studies. While there, she was awarded the Thomas D. Sayles Jr. Award for outstanding service to the community. After graduating, she worked at New Beginnings, Inc. in Lewiston. The young people Sunny served there inspired her to attend Vermont Law School where she focused on restorative justice practices. Sunny continued to return to serve the Maine community each summer, interning at Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Center for Youth Policy and Law. She also spent a semester in the Juvenile Division at the Defender General in Montpelier, VT where she was able to cut her teeth in the field of criminal defense. Sunny lives in Midcoast Maine where she enjoys time spent with family, walks in the woods, watching movies, and long Facetime calls with family and friends.

EMILY SLATON - EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Emily Slaton serves as Executive Assistant, providing essential administrative and organizational support to our team. Originally from Long Beach, California, Emily made the move across the country to Maine to join the office and quickly became an integral part of its day-to-day operations. Known for her reliability and positive energy, she helps keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Outside of work, Emily enjoys gardening, reading, and great food. She is also an amazing aunt to Ashley’s three beautiful children.

AMY DILLER - PARALEGAL

Amy came to MIDC after working as an assistant clerk at the Cumberland County Courthouse for six years, toiling under mountains of file folders and gaining valuable knowledge about the inner workings of the Maine court system. She lives in Portland with her two beautiful cats, Sardine and Kipper, and her husband.

ABIGAIL FORCIER - IN TRAINING

Abigail is a born and raised Mainer. She grew up in southern Maine and attended Husson University in Bangor, ME. Abigail is a summa cum laude graduate, earning her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Legal Studies with specific certificates in: Criminal Justice, Paralegal, and Advanced Civil Practice in 2023. During her time at Husson, she interned at the Penobscot County Probate Court and trained to be a Court Appointed Child Advocate (CASA). She was the only member of her class to be accepted to law school as a junior in college through a 3+3 partnership between Husson University and University of Maine School of Law, earning the Margret Campbell Award from Husson University in 2022 for the distinction. In May of 2025, she earned her J.D. from The University of Maine School of Law. While in law school, she focused her studies on the intersection of social justice and criminal law. During her second year, she worked as a legal fellow for the Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault. In her final year, she externed at the Maine Indigent Defense Center and happily accepted an offer to join the team after graduation. Abigail is passionate about protecting the Constitutional Rights of all people and is excited to be able to work to make an impact right here in her home State. Outside of the office, Abigail enjoys teaching herself new crafts, frequenting her local farmer’s market, spending time in nature, getting lost in a good book and getting quality time with her family and friends.

JOSEPH K. INABANZA - PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Joseph Inabanza is currently a law student at Maine Law (Class of 2027), pursuing his passion for justice reform and community advocacy. He brings a unique perspective shaped by his multicultural background and deep roots in the local community. He earned his BA in Criminology from the University of Southern Maine, complemented by minors in History and Race and Ethnic Studies.

With a background in education and juvenile justice reform, Joseph has worked with the Portland Public School Board, Maine Youth Court, and Shaw’s Innovation graduate research fellowship, to name a few. His current focus spans multiple areas, including access to legal education, criminal justice, immigration advocacy, policy initiatives, environmental law, and economics.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Joseph is actively involved in his local church and maintains a balanced lifestyle through sports, outdoor activities, and community engagement. He often plays basketball, soccer, skis, or kayaks when not immersed in his legal studies and other engagements.

MARIA T. SCHUTTE - ATTORNEY

Maria Schutte is a trial attorney with courtroom experience in both civil and criminal defense litigation, including oral advocacy, strategic motion practice, and jury trials. She applies a client-centered philosophy where she prioritizes clients’ goals and priorities. The privilege of practicing in different geographical regions has afforded Schutte a broader perspective of different litigation styles and approaches.

Schutte previously served as a public defender in New Hampshire and then Missouri, managing high caseloads and protecting and defending her clients’ rights and dignity throughout the adversarial criminal proceeding. In her capacity as public defender, Schutte tried cases ranging from misdemeanor driving charges to serious felonies, and argued on behalf of her clients at parole board hearings, probation revocations, and juvenile adjudications. After returning to New England, Schutte gained civil litigation experience at a New Hampshire law firm where she was a member of the firm’s business practice group before joining MIDC.