NATIONAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE COLLEGE FACULTY

William M. Ward is the State Public Defender for Minnesota. Previously, Bill served as Chief Public Defender for the Fourth District – Hennepin County, Minnesota (April 2009-June 2014) and as Chief Public Defender, Tenth Judicial District, Minnesota (January 2001- April 2009). Prior to moving to Minnesota, Bill worked in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Cook County, Illinois (1987 – 2001). While there, he practiced in Chicago as well as the 6th Municipal District as a Felony Trial Assistant and Trial Supervisor. Bill has served as an adjunct at Hamline University Law School, William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) and DePaul University College of Law, instructing on trial advocacy. Bill is on faculty at the National Criminal Defense College, Illinois Extended Trial Advocacy Program, Wisconsin Trial Skills Academy, the Minnesota Public Defender Trial Advocacy Institute and has presented or coached on many topics in numerous jurisdictions. Bill previously served as Chair of the Systems Builders Committee for the National Association for Public Defense. Bill received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and his B.A. from the University of Illinois. Admitted to practice in Minnesota and Illinois.