Sam is deeply passionate about creating better outcomes for the kids she serves. This passion shows in the absolute fervor with which she works on their behalf. She doesn’t just encourage her clients to take plea deals, even though doing so may mean less work. Instead, she remains relentless in holding the state to its burdens and obligations. She takes her cases to trial. She spends hours reviewing discovery evidence, conducting legal research, and assembling the best cases possible. And quite often, she wins.
In one recent case, Sam defended a teen who shouldn’t have been in the legal system to begin with. The child was struggling in school, and it was clear that what he really needed was special education supports, rather than jail time where he would receive little to no services. “The more I get to know a client, the more I can speak up on why he deserves to be released,” she said. For months, she fought for this teen in court, and in the end she won. The boy was released to his family and was also allowed to go back to school, now with more supports in place to aid him with his struggles.
“Sam doesn’t have to tell her clients that she’s on their side–they see it,” said Clark-Rizzio. “They respect her because they can see how hard she’s working for them. That’s what really bonds her to her clients.”
Sam’s clients know they can trust her because they know how hard she works. If she says she’s going to do something, if she says she’s going to be prepared, she will be. It’s that simple. And when working with kids who have so often been let down by the adults and authority figures in their lives, Sam’s dedication is all the more important. And despite working under challenging circumstances, she treats everyone, from her clients to opposing counsel, with dignity and respect. She is always calm, collected, and professional. Even amid the chaos of juvenile court, she refuses to get flustered. Instead, she brings the same strategic, analytical approach that makes her such a gifted lawyer.
“Her ability to analyze the systems that were negatively impacting children was a big selling point for us,” said Clark-Rizzio. “Many attorneys are either prone to being more passionate about their work or more analytical—Sam has a great balance of both.”
Prior to her time at LCCR, Sam worked briefly for the DA while hoping to affect positive change from inside the system. Over time, it became clear that she was not able to prioritize the well-being of children, or even public safety, in the role. After less than a year, she realized she had to leave.
It was my time in the DA’s office that helped me understand how juvenile public defense worked. I saw how unique it is to give the kids the chance to do the decision-making in their own lives—to give them a chance to really be listened to.
I can dream that we might one day reach a point with the DA’s office where they realize that what they’re doing isn’t justice. But right now, it’s about fighting on their level and fighting even harder. And fighting to show society why what they’re doing to children is so wrong.
LCCR represents approximately 90 percent of the children who pass through Orleans Parish Juvenile Court each year. All of the children Sam serves live near or below the poverty line, the majority are Black, and many fell into the legal system because of unmet needs elsewhere in their lives. LCCR provides children with holistic legal representation, providing each child with a team consisting of a lawyer, a social worker, an investigator, a youth advocate, and a civil attorney. The organization defends their constitutional rights in the courtroom, and also provides necessary interventions, supports, and services. They help kids enroll in school and special education programs, connect with job training and employment, and access mentoring and mental health counseling.
This work is incredibly important to Sam. In her words, “It’s not about winning the case. It’s about the way that we can help our clients holistically.”
“We’re in a very difficult time,” said LCCR Deputy Legal Director Hannah Van De Car. “To have an attorney [like Sam] who steps up, who meets the challenge ahead, is incredibly inspiring. Instead of collapsing, it’s only galvanized her to fight harder.”