Hi, I’m
Michelle Duncan
Jackson,LA
Overview
35
years of professional experience
Work History
State Of Louisiana/DHHJackson, Louisiana
Forensic Community Service Director
12.2006 - Current
Job overview
- Implements and coordinates an array of outreach services to forensic patients outside of hospital settings.
- Oversees the Forensic Aftercare and Monitoring system for individuals with mental illness who are under the supervision of the Criminal Justice and Mental Health systems. (Individuals in the Community with the legal status Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity or Incompetent to Proceed to Trial in the Foreseeable Future)
- Supervises subordinate professional staff who are responsible for the provision of forensic services across the state.
- Provides technical assistance to professional staff, state and federal judges, sheriffs, coroners, sanity commission members (physicians) and other personnel of the criminal justice system.
- Liaison between the Forensic hospital, jails and the courts.
- Develops statewide policies and procedures to meet goals and objectives of the program and to comply with judicial decrees, court orders and injunctions.
- Oversee the legal documents for all forensic patients at the hospital and the clients in the community.
- Monitor the Consent/Settlement Decree (i.e. getting forensic patients out of the jail and in the Forensic Hospital in a timely manner and Report to the federal court on the forensic hospital's compliance with the federal decree.
20th Judicial District Public Defender's OfficeClinton, Louisiana
Public Defender for East and West Feliciana
04.2008 - 04.2025
Job overview
- Prepared individuals for trial in over 40-50 cases monthly.
- Conferred with judges and opposing counsel to discuss and settle case disputes.
- Researched legal authority and state statutes to compare case facts patterns to precedential cases and determine probable outcomes.
- Communicated effectively with clients to interpret laws, rulings and regulations that affected each case.
- Educate clients on legal and court processes.
- Developed detailed litigation strategies.
- Conducted in-depth research in order to write effective proposals, agreements and contracts.
- Authored accurate and thorough waivers, motions and petitions on behalf of clients.
- Selected jurors, argued motions and met judges during course of each trial.
P. Michelle D. Duncan, Attorney at LawJackson, Louisiana
Attorney
10.1991 - 12.2006
Job overview
- Represented clients in numerous different cases, including bankruptcy, torts, contracts, open accounts, leases, family law and criminal law.
- Prepared individuals for trial in over 6-10 cases monthly.
- Conferred with judges and opposing counsel to discuss and settle case disputes.
- Researched legal authority and state statutes to compare case facts patterns to precedential cases and determine probable outcomes.
- Communicated effectively with clients to interpret laws, rulings and regulations that affected each case.
- Educate clients on legal and court processes.
- Developed detailed litigation strategies.
- Conducted in-depth research in order to write effective proposals, agreements and contracts.
- Authored accurate and thorough waivers, motions and petitions on behalf of clients.
State of Louisiana, Office of the GovernorBaton Rouge, LA
Mental Health Advocacy Services
03.1997 - 12.2003
Job overview
- Provided free legal services under Louisiana’s Behavioral Health Law for patients who were hospitalized due to mental illness or substance abuse.
- Represented the patients at Eastern Louisiana Mental Health System during judicial commitments.
- Represented defendants in interdictions.
- Protected patients’ rights and provided information on behavioral health law to consumers, hospitals, and the public.
Mental Health Ass. of Louisiana
Mental Health Advocacy Services
09.1999 - 12.2005
Job overview
- Represented mentally ill juveniles across the state in Children are in Need of Care and a few Delinquency cases.
- Represented mentally ill juveniles across the state in school board hearings.
- Went across the state, speaking to parents regarding their children’s rights in criminal cases.
- Private organization that had a grant to represent mentally ill children in the CINC cases
Timeline
Public Defender for East and West Feliciana
20th Judicial District Public Defender's Office
04.2008 - 04.2025
Forensic Community Service Director
State Of Louisiana/DHH
12.2006 - Current
Mental Health Advocacy Services
Mental Health Ass. of Louisiana
09.1999 - 12.2005
Mental Health Advocacy Services
State of Louisiana, Office of the Governor
03.1997 - 12.2003
Attorney
P. Michelle D. Duncan, Attorney at Law
10.1991 - 12.2006