By: Isabel Hasselbalch, 2023 Rappaport Fellow
For the 2023 Rappaport Center for Law and Policy Fellows’ final meeting, we visited the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) and spoke with Chief Counsel, Anthony Benedetti. We began the meeting hearing about Attorney Benedetti’s long career in public policy that ultimately brought him to CPCS (and the Advisory Board of the Rappaport Center!) and each of the Fellows shared something meaningful they worked on over the summer. Benedetti spoke about his previous role in the State’s House Ways and Means Committee, and how he has utilized his experience in both legislative and judicial work to advocate for best practices and better policies for Massachusetts’ state public defenders.
Specifically, CPCS is advocating for better outcomes for their clients through providing transparency to legislators about issues public defenders are encountering in the courtroom. Currently, this includes a discussion with lawmakers, law enforcement, public defenders and academics on the racial disparities in police automobile and pedestrian stops. Internally, Benedetti spoke about the importance of working with the agency’s communication department to ensure that defendants’ narratives are shared with the public, rather than just the law enforcement perspective. As always, my Fellow-Fellows had many thought provoking questions, prompting discussions on prison abolition, child welfare and poverty, and pay disparities between public defenders and other attorneys.
This summer, I had the privilege of working at CPCS in the Youth Advocacy Department in Juvenile Appeals. I had a wonderful experience working for this agency and was grateful to receive mentorship from many brilliant attorneys who fiercely advocate for their clients. It was a pleasure to end my summer hearing from the Chief Counsel of CPCS to know more about the policies that have helped make CPCS a great place to work.
The end of our meeting with Benedetti was bittersweet, for it was our final outing together as Fellows this summer. This summer has been exceptional, and I have personally learned so much from the people that have taken the time to speak with us. I leave this summer with hope for the future, for I know that there are so many people working to make Massachusetts a better place to live for everyone. I cannot wait to see what my Fellow-Fellows/eleven new friends do in the future. I know each of them is destined for stellar, impactful careers in public service. Thank you to the Rappaport Family, Lissy, and the folks at the Rappaport Center for this opportunity!