NCDC Leadership

Karen Smolar

Dean

karen@ncdc.net

Karen Smolar is the Dean of the National Criminal Defense College as well as a Managing Director in the Public Defender Division at the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Massachusetts. Karen spent her three previous decades representing the indigent accused in New York City, including twenty years of dedicated work at The Bronx Defenders. Karen spent a decade as their Trial Chief, deservedly earning the informal title of Persuasion Guru. Karen’s time at The Bronx Defenders was marked by formal and informal brainstorming of a countless number of cases, as she mentored, trained, and supervised dozens and dozens of younger public defenders representing clients charged with nearly every crime imaginable.

Karen’s trial training legacy lives on at The Bronx Defenders, embodied in the Defenders’ Academy, the annual, intensive five-day program that Karen created from scratch in 2007. The Academy was the first training program in the country to focus on the intersection between trial skills and performance work, and it continues to attract and welcome interested attorneys in criminal, family, and civil practices from across the United States. Many Academy graduates from over the years would acknowledge the debt they owe to Karen when they speak of having been “Smolarized” in their approach to trial work.

Prior to her appointment as Dean in 2017, Karen had served for a decade on the College’s faculty as a presenter, lecturer, and small-group leader. Her work at the College allows her to develop and implement creative programming and pedagogy to train lawyers from around the country and beyond. Since her Deanship began, Karen has been especially proud of both the College’s successful efforts to diversify its faculty, staff, and participants as well as the College curriculum’s emphasis on racial and social justice.

Karen is herself a renowned lecturer and guest trainer on everything from storytelling to closing argument, cross-examining expert witnesses to voir dire, having presented at trainings for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York State Defenders Association, and many other state-wide public defender offices around the country. Karen also has more than a decade of experience teaching in law school classrooms. Karen has served as adjunct faculty at St. John’s School of Law in New York, Seton Hall Law School in New Jersey, and Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island.

Brett Equals

Operations Manager

brett@ncdc.net

Brett joined the National Criminal Defense College in November 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a diverse skill set to the organization. Throughout his career, he has successfully orchestrated large-scale events, with a focus on inclusivity, social impact, and fostering meaningful connections across diverse audiences.

A passionate advocate for social justice, Brett has worked closely with underserved communities, providing mentorship and support to students with special needs. He has also led programs designed to promote personal growth, empowerment, and successful transitions into the workforce.

With a Master’s in Special Education and Bachelor’s in Communications and Sport Management, Brett combines expertise in strategic event planning with a deep commitment to serving and empowering others. He is enthusiastic about leveraging his skills to further the mission of the National Criminal Defense College and contribute to its continued success.

Bellamy Johnston

Faculty Liaison/ CLE Specialist

bellamy@ncdc.net

Bellamy Johnston is the heart and soul of the National Criminal Defense College.  She has worked every day for the College for the last 25 years.  Since 2019, she has been NCDC’s Program Coordinator. She manages the Macon office and the day to day functioning of the College.  She also coordinates Continuing Legal Education credits for participants with most of the 50 United States and Territories.

Bellamy strongly believes in what criminal defense attorneys stand for. She is very proud to be a part of the National Criminal Defense College family.

Before joining the College, she worked in the service industry for 35 years.  She worked for the Hilton Hotel in Macon, GA as a switchboard operator, then a desk clerk and finally a reservations manager.  During her time as reservations manager, she was voted employee of the year.

Bellamy earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Service from Middle Georgia State University in 2015.

She enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, traveling and fishing.