About me
Christian Lassiter is a Capital Fellow with the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel Project. Previously,
Christian served as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland (AFPD). As an AFPD,
Christian represented clients facing complex felony charges, including international white-collar crimes,
alleged instances of national terrorism and capital homicide cases. While serving as an AFPD, Christian
was a member of his office’s training team and lead initiatives to increase the number of attorneys of
color within the Office of the Federal Public Defender and Maryland’s federal bar. Prior to joining the
Federal Public Defender’s Office, Christian owned and operated a private practice in New York City. His
private practice focused primarily on criminal defense, post-conviction relief, and family law, including
matters of custody and juvenile delinquency. As a Capital Fellow, an AFPD, or in private practice, Christian
collaborates with attorneys on issues pertaining immigration law and its intersection with criminal law.
Christian developed his multifaceted legal foundation at the Bronx Defenders, a nationally recognized
holistic defense organization in New York. While at the Bronx Defenders, Christian represented indigent
clients facing the highest level felonies and misdemeanor offenses. He also led several community
empowerment initiatives, supervised a team of first-year attorneys, and testified on criminal justice issues
numerous times, including before New York’s City Council on behalf of the Bronx Defenders.
Christian also currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law,
teaching Criminal Procedure. He also is an Affiliate Professor at Loyola Maryland’s Sellinger School of
Business, teaching Legal Environment of Business. Christian also volunteers as Coach in the Mock Trial
Program at Howard University Law School.
