About Attorney Elizabeth Payette

I am an experienced trial lawyer who has devoted my entire career to defending and advocating for my clients.  I have successfully defended clients in countless felony bench and jury trials and litigated numerous pretrial motions where the government has violated my client's constitutional rights.  I believe in a client-centered approach and consider my clients part of the defense team.  I have extensive experience in defending a wide range of felony cases including cases involving complicated legal issues and expert witnesses in areas such as cell phone analysis, DNA and ballistics.   

Why Criminal Defense?

I made the decision to attend Law School so I could zealously defend everyday people against criminal accusations.  While attending Law School, I assisted in defending individuals facing the death penalty, helped to successfully secure a pardon for a long-incarcerated client and tirelessly argued to overturn wrongful convictions through the appeals process.  While working as a Law Clerk in the Cook County Public Defender's Office, I was a member of the legal team that successfully argued to overturn an innocent client's murder conviction and secure his release after serving 26 years in prison for a murder he did not commit.  Witnessing these injustices only strengthened my commitment to defend individuals accused of a crime.  For over a decade, I have been a strong and fierce advocate for every single client by tailoring each person's defense to their specific needs.  I will continue to ensure each client's fundamental rights are defended and protected and that they are treated with dignity and respect throughout the process.    

RECENT TRAINING

• Legal Aid Society of New York City, “ 8th Questioning Forensics, A juror, an expert & an algorithm walk into a courtroom: Miscommunication in Forensics” Queens, New York (March 2023)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, “Mental Illness & the Law: Addressing and Litigating Behavioral Health Disorders in Criminal Cases (March 2021)

EXPERIENCE

Assistant Public Defender, Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender

• Adult Trial Division (December 2020- July 2023)
• Felony Probation Violations Division (October 2017- November 2020)

Committee for Public Counsel Services, Quincy, Massachusetts

• Public Defender Division (February 2017- July 2017)

Assistant Public Defender, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

• Adult Trial Division (August 2013- January 2016)
• Domestic Violence Division (September 2012-August 2013)
• Traffic Division (February 2010-August 2012)
• Intern (May 2007-May 2008)

DePaul College of Law, Professor Andrea Lyon

• Law Clerk and Research Assistant (May 2007-October 2008)

BAR MEMBERSHIP

• Rhode Island (2018)
• Illinois (2008)

COURT PANELS

• Rhode Island State Court, Murder Panel
• Rhode Island State Court, Class One Felony Panel
• Rhode Island State Court, Class Two Felony Panel

EDUCATION

DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois

• J.D. (May 2008)

American University, Washington, D.C.

• B.A. (May 2002)

EXPERT TRAINING/COLLABORATION

• Criminal Street Gangs
• Constitutional challenges
• Reid technique/ Confessions
• Warrant suppression
• DNA
• Cell Site Analysis
• Forensic Pathology
• Ballistics/Firearms training
• Arson/Fire Science training
• Fingerprint Analysis
• Hasbro Hospital Child Protection Team