The criminal legal system remains at the forefront of national discourse, especially concerning the pervasive issues of abusive policing, mass incarceration, and the death penalty. These systemic problems not only undermine individual liberties but also perpetuate cycles of injustice and inequality within our communities. Addressing these challenges requires a deep examination of current practices and the implementation of transformative reforms to protect fundamental human rights and ensure equitable justice for all.  Learn more about these important topics at our 2026 Summer Forum Panel on Criminal Law & Death Penalty Panel on Thursday, July 9. Register here to join us!

Mindy Johnson will moderate the Criminal Law & Death Penalty panel. Mindy manages pro bono efforts in Fried Franks’ Washington, DC Office. As Pro Bono Attorney, she develops and supervises pro bono projects and collaborates with legal service organizations in the Washington D.C. area. 

Before joining Fried Frank, Mindy was an associate with a civil rights boutique law firm and an associate with a large US law firm, where she litigated cases on a billable and pro bono basis for organizations and individuals, securing successful outcomes in civil rights and immigration matters, veterans’ benefits and criminal appeals and in other complex civil litigation.

Mindy is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Council of Lawyers and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

Our panelists will be:

Abby Crick, American Bar Association

Abby joined the Death Penalty Representation Project in 2023. Abby works with attorneys and law firms interested in pro bono projects to identify cases needing their assistance.

Abby found her passion for capital representation as an intern at the Project in 2013, and she is excited to return to the American Bar Association as a Senior Attorney. Prior to her return, Abby worked on pre-trial and post-conviction capital cases in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina.

Abby has a B.A. from Northwestern University, an M.A. from Boston College, a J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law, and an LL.M. from Georgetown Law.

When not focused on ensuring that capital defendants receive effective representation, Abby spends her time reading, traveling, and going on long walks with her family. 

Beth Wilson, Williams & Connolly LLP

Beth Wilson manages and supports Williams & Connolly LLP engagement in pro bono work. In addition to managing the administration of the firm’s pro bono program, Beth provides strategic counsel to attorneys working on a wide range of pro bono litigation matters. She also works closely with individual attorneys to help them establish pro bono practices that complement and enhance their existing firm practices. 

Beth’s own practice focuses on criminal defense and post-conviction matters. While seconded to the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Beth represented over 200 individuals facing misdemeanor and felony charges. She tried multiple cases as bench and jury trials and represented clients in a variety of adversarial proceedings including bail review and violation of probation hearings. 

Prior to becoming the firm’s first pro bono counsel in 2025, Beth was an associate at Williams & Connolly. She represented individuals, corporations, and law firms in a variety of matters in federal and state courts and in arbitration proceedings.

James Moody, Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project 

James Moody joined the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project in 2021. Prior to working at MAIP, he was a public defender in Miami, Florida, where he served as both a trial and appellate attorney. Outside of law, James has spent time as an executive in the tech industry, ski instructing, and playing in blues bands. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and NYU School of Law.

We look forward to seeing you at this panel! Register here to get your ticket to the keynote and the substantive panels. Join the conversation using #SumFo26!