Krista Smith 
Mitigation Specialist
 
Krista began her career almost twenty-five years ago as a paralegal and has extensive experience in both civil and criminal defense at all stages of litigation. After a decade of civil defense work, she turned her focus to indigent criminal defense and joined the Maryland Federal Public Defender’s Office. During her tenure there, Krista volunteered as a paralegal consultant for the University of Baltimore Innocence Project Clinic. While being mentored by Federal Investigators and Capital Mitigation Specialists, Krista found her calling. She joined the Capital Habeas Unit in the Delaware Federal Defender’s Office. While working as an Investigator and a Paralegal, Krista began her mitigation specialist training both on the job and in the classroom.