Jill L. Paperno

Jill Paperno joined the Syracuse Law School as an adjunct professor for the fall of 2019, teaching a class in jury selection.

Paperno has been the First Assistant Public Defender with the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office in Rochester, NY, for nearly four years. Before that she was the Second Assistant, and she has held other positions with the office for the 32 years she has worked there. As a public defender, Paperno has tried numerous felony jury trials.

Paperno is the author of Representing the Accused: A Practical Guide to Criminal Defense. In addition, she has taught numerous continuing legal education courses to practitioners for many years.

She has been awarded the Monroe County Bar Foundation Humanitarian Award in June of 2018; the New York State Defenders Association Wilfred R. O’Connor Award in July 2017; the GRAWA President’s Award in June 2017; the Daily Record Nathaniel Award in November 2011; The Daily Record Leaders in Law Award in November 2011; and the Monroe County Public Defender’s Jeffrey A. Jacobs Memorial Award in December 2010.

Paperno received her J.D. from the University of Buffalo School of Law and her B.S.W. from SUNY-Albany School of Social Welfare.