James M. McGahan
Criminal Law; Family Law
Personal Information:
Mr. McGahan graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in 2012, graduated from New England Law School with a Juris Doctorate.
He was admitted to the New York and Massachusetts state bars in June 2012.
Mr. McGahan joined the St. Lawrence County Public Defender's Office in June 2014. Prior to that, he worked for the Greene County Public Defender's Office from September 2012 to June 2014.
Laurie L. Paro
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Paro graduated from St. Lawrence University and went on to study at Western New England Law School.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1992.
Ms. Paro worked at a Private Practice focusing on Family and General Law until she was hired by the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s office in 2000.
Since then Ms. Paro has worked for St. Lawrence County at the District Attorney’s Office, Dept. of Social Services Attorney, and the Conflict Defender’s Office. She joined the Public Defender’s Office in September 2019.
David D. Willer
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Willer graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1986. Mr. Willer practiced there for three years.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1990. He has experience practicing Criminal Law, Family Law, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, and Appeals.
Mr. Willer started at the Public Defender’s Office in December 2019.
Thomas C. Finnerty, Jr.
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Finnerty graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, FL in May of 1998. He started work as an Assistant DA in St. Lawrence County in August 1998.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in January 1999.
Mr. Finnerty joined the Public Defender’s Office in September 2020.
Alison B. Appleby
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Appleby graduated from Albany Law School.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2007.
Ms. Appleby started at the Public Defender’s Office in June 2011. She has also worked at the St. Lawrence County Attorney’s Office as a Deputy County Attorney.
Ms. Appleby rejoined the Public Defender’s Office in May 2021.
Brenna J. Ryan
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Ryan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, School Of Law in 2002 and has practiced law in the state of Arkansas for several years.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2011 and mostly practices Family Law.
Ms. Ryan started at the Public Defender’s Office in January 2023.
Kirsten L. Parsons
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Parsons graduated from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon in 2021.
She has practiced family, landlord-tenant, administrative and juvenile law in the state of Oregon.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2023.
Ms. Parsons started at the Public Defender’s Office in August 2023.
Kieffer B. Kloko
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Kloko graduated from Florida A&M University College of Law in 2019.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2023.
Mr. Kloko started at the Public Defender’s Office in January 2024.
Jason M. Marx
Criminal Law; Family Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Marx graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2010. He has practiced Criminal Law and Family Law in Upstate New York.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2010.
Mr. Marx started at the Public Defender’s Office in February 2024.
***To find out the status of your case, your next scheduled court date, or to set up an telephone/office appointment, you can email the Attorney's Secretary.
If your Attorney is: James McGahan, David Willer, Thomas Finnerty, Alison Appleby, Kieffer Kloko or Jason Marx.
- Please email Kristen at [email protected] or Whitney at [email protected].
If your Attorney is: Laurie Paro, Brenna Ryan or Kirsten Parsons.
- Please email Krista at [email protected].
Please be advised that every effort is made to get back to you by email the same day, but depending on the day-to-day workload, you may not get an email back until the next day.
Thank you for your patience.
