On top of legal know-how, investigative social work skills are a big part of Tracy Ulstad’s job as a Federal Public Defender for death row inmates. She meets thoroughly with the people in her client’s life, often building a picture for the jury of how a history of family violence and abuse led to the crime—an alternative to sterile facts which suggest an evil person.

Now progressive, Tracy credits her conservative upbringing for launching her career—via the humanitarian values she learned in Catholic school. She describes the stark challenges her clients face during decades on death row, how she talks about work with her 7-year-old son, and the groundbreaking state Supreme Court case that might eliminate the death penalty in Pennsylvania.

More about Tracy Ulstad and the Capital Habeus Unit:

• Habeas Corpus Unit, Federal Community Defender Office (Eastern PA district)
• Could a Philly killer’s appeal lead PA Supreme Court to abolish the death penalty?
• Capital punishment in the United States