Kevin Rooney - Criminal Defense Attorney

Kevin Rooney - Criminal Defense Attorney

From How Did You Get Here? by Jamie Kirsten Howard

April 6, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Kevin Rooney discusses his journey in criminal defense, the impact of social media on the legal landscape, and the importance of understanding clients' backgrounds.

HDYGH, Kevin? We talk growing up with a strong sense of justice, being thrown into a murder case at 18, when rejection is redirection, night court in NYC, coming back to California, and how social media reshaped the legal landscape. Connect with Kevin Just Mercy and work by Bryan Stevenson Connect with Jamie Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Kevin Rooney’s background in criminal justice01:03 - Kevin's childhood aspirations and early interest in fairness and justice02:19 - First internship at age 18 and a formative case involving a young shooting victim03:36 - Transition from prosecutor to defense attorney and lessons learned04:37 - The importance of understanding clients' backgrounds and building trust05:50 - Kevin’s first big job clerking for a U.S. District Court judge07:51 - Experiences in New York’s night court and high case volume09:17 - Building trust with clients through consistent, empathetic communication10:56 - The significance of understanding the systemic influences on defendants’ lives12:39 - The importance of knowing clients beyond the police reports13:36 - Kevin’s switch from prosecution to defense and insights into systemic issues15:11 - Community dialogue…

People in this episode

Host: Jamie Kirsten Howard

Guest: Kevin Rooney

Topics covered

  • criminal defense
  • justice system
  • social media
  • legal career
  • client relationships

Keywords

  • criminal defense attorney
  • justice
  • social media
  • client trust
  • legal career

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Just Mercy

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