As special counsel to the director for strategic planning, Janet Mitchell assists PDS with the implementation of its updated strategic plan and the monitoring of PDS’s performance under the plan, including performing quantitative work and analysis. Ms. Mitchell also works to develop and implement specific PDS initiatives and programs designed to assess and improve the performance of PDS and the court-appointed attorney panel system in the District of Columbia. 

Prior to becoming special counsel, Ms. Mitchell was PDS’s trial chief from 2008 to 2013 where she oversaw over 60 trial attorneys, managing their caseloads, scheduling, and supervision. Ms. Mitchell was also responsible for the overall management and administrative functions of the Trial Division ensuring that each division lawyer met or exceeded the standard of representation required by PDS.  Ms. Mitchell has been at PDS for thirteen years where she has tried over 100 conspiracy, murder, sexual assault, and other major felony cases.  Prior to PDS, she was in private practice focusing on indigent criminal representation.  From 1992 to 1993, Ms. Mitchell served as a law clerk to the Honorable Gregory Mize of the Superior Court in the District of Columbia.  Ms. Mitchell received her B.A. from Reed College and her J.D. from the Columbus School of Law where she was lead articles editor for the Law Review.  She is a member of the D.C. Bar’s Legal Ethics Committee and currently serves as an adjunct professor of law at the Georgetown University Law Center.