Contact Information

Bio

A graduate of Emory’s Law and Religion Program, Sarah Gerwig is now a staff attorney at the Georgia Indigent Defense Council in Atlanta. In January 2004, however, her office will be re-named the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council, when it takes over the responsibilities of a much- awaited and much-needed statewide public defender system. Her duties in the Appellate Division include handling direct appeals and assisting appointed counsel with appeals in criminal cases—including one death penalty case. She also coordinates the office correspondence with prisoners throughout the state, and strives, in doing so, to respond quickly and compassionately, even when the office cannot formally help. Still, with a little organization and rule-bending, Sarah and others in her division have devised a way to feed research and assistance, short of representation, to many throughout the state who would otherwise have nowhere to turn. Sarah has also just this year begun a clinical program at Emory Law School to involve law students in handling (non-capital) state habeas appeals in the Georgia Supreme Court; Georgia is one of only two states in the country that provides absolutely no right to counsel in post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings.

Other professional interests include religious practice in prison, particularly death row; the abolition of the death penalty; reform of legal education; and outreach to prisoners’ families.

Out of the office, Sarah likes to sing, practice yoga, and spend time with her dog, Scout. She is also expecting a baby boy in March 2004 (!), and this experience has only deepened her hope for a compassionate and connected society in which her child can grow and learn and love.

 

Contact Information

Sarah L. Gerwig
Georgia Indigent Defense Council
104 Marietta Street, Suite 200
Atlanta, Georgia 3030

Phone: 404.232.8900
Email: sgerwig@gidc.state.ga.us
www.gidc.com
www.gpdsc.com