Quinn C. O'Brien
Private Investigator - Chief Investigator, OIS: I contract with attorneys to investigate criminal cases in trial and post-conviction proceedings, including obtaining and analyzing documents, locating and interviewing witnesses and serving process. Licensed and insured.
Adjunct Instructor, faculty, University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law, 2015 - present. Courses include The Fundamentals of Investigation and Mental Health Investigations
Professional Positions
Investigator, Midwestern Innocence Project, 2010: I was recruited to MIP to investigate the Dale Helmig case and prepare for the evidentiary hearing on his innocence claim. I also supervised and trained law students to screen and investigate innocence claims and assisted with program development. I opened a private practice in December, 2010 after Mr. Helmig was released based on a finding that he proved his innocence by clear and convincing evidence.
Staff Investigator, Public Defender Service of Washington, DC 2005-2010: I investigated all levels of felony offenses, including homicides, for an urban public defender office. My responsibilities included client and witness interviews, FOIA requests, gathering and organizing documents, training and supervising interns, staff training, preparing trial exhibits and testifying at hearings and trials. I had the opportunity to work with many amazing attorneys including Larry Kupers, Michael Satin and Ed Ungvarsky.
Public Relations, America’s Families United Voter Protection Project, Washington, DC, 2004-2005: I investigated election boards and voting precincts for compliance with the Voter Protection Act prior to and following the 2004 Presidential election.
Freelance journalist, 2002-2004: I investigated, wrote and contributed news and feature stories to commercial publications.
Reporter, Townsend Communications, Kansas City, MO 2003-2004: I investigated, wrote and published articles for a regional weekly paper, The Dispatch Tribune.
Clerk, Law Offices of Dan Viets, 2001-2002: I did secretarial and dictation duties for a small private practice firm in Mid-Missouri.
Investigator, Public Interest Litigation Clinic, Kansas City, MO 2004: I investigated innocence cases for a non-profit indigent defense firm, including document-gathering, witness and client interviews. I conducted key aspects of the investigation in the retrial and exoneration of Theodore White, Jr.
Legal Assistant, Public Interest Litigation Clinic, summer, 1998-99: I typed pleadings and memos, maintained client files.
Professional Presentations and Teaching Experience
National Innocence Network Conference (2012-present); 2017, San Diego: Panel discussion, "New Science and Old Fashioned Leg Work"; 2016, San Antonio, presentation "Webstalking; Using the Internet in Investigations"; Orlando, 2014 NACDL seminar, presentation with Sean O'Brien on using clinical students in Innocence Project settings;Kansas City, 2012, panel discussion on interviewing techniques and speaking to reluctant or difficult witnesses.
UMKC Presents: Film and the Law CLE (2014 - present); Ethical and practical continuing legal education on innocence issues in the law based around films; 2014, "To Kill a Mockingbird", panel discussion and lecture on interview skills; 2015, "The Central Park Five", panel discussion as part of Ryan Ferguson's legal team, lecture on false confessions; 2016, "The Syndrome"; panel discussion on innocence claims in shaken baby cases and lecture on gathering and gleaning leads from medical documents.
Capitol Mitigation Skills Workshop: (2013 - present); Mitigation skills training seminar presented by the AO in partnership with capital resource centers and the Federal Public Defenders. Presentations include leading plenary brainstorming sessions and acting as instructor and faculty in break-out group sessions.
NACDL Indigent Defense Training, 2015: Delaware (mandatory state bar attendance for criminal defense attorneys), and Texas; NACDL received a grant to produce training for state level public defenders. I helped NACDL's CLE staff create an investigation curriculum, and presented it at conferences for public defenders.
Missouri State Public Defender Spring Training, 2016: Kansas City; Helped develop and present multiple lectures on good investigative practices (interviewing, document and evidence gathering) and client-centered defense.
NACDL Webcast Series, "Recantations"; Washington, DC September, 2014; Presented on good interviewing practices, obtaining and preserving recantations and corroborating evidence with Sean O'Brien of UMKC Law School and Justin Brooks with the California Innocence Project.
Anthony G. Amsterdam Capital Post-Conviction Skills Seminar, sponsored by NITA, HAT Counsel and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. In a workshop format, I served on the faculty and prepared professional actors to role-play jurors and witnesses. I observed and critiqued seminar participants on witness and juror interviews. (Kansas City, Sept. 15-18, 2011).
Working With Investigators: Practical and Ethical Guidelines for Lawyers, Family Law Conference, Sponsored by the Missouri Bar, with UMKC Law Professor Mary Kaye O’Malley and Associate Dean Barb Glesner-Fines. (Tan-Tar-A Lodge, Lake Ozark, Missouri, August 4, 2011).
Investigating Actual Innocence, Sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Bench and Bar Conference (Tan-Tar-A Lodge, Lake Ozark, Missouri, May 2011).
Innocence Cases: Working With Investigators, sponsored by the Midwest Innocence Project and The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (Kansas City, MO, April, 2011).
The Fundamentals of Investigation (and Mental Health Investigations): I team-teach a two hour semester-long course and a one-semester-hour mini-term course at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law with Professors Tricia Bushnell and Sean O’Brien. I teach practical and ethical aspects of investigation to second and third year law students, including relevant ABA Criminal Justice Standards. (Spring semester, 2011 - Present)
In-House Continuing Education, Public Defender Service, Washington, DC. I taught in-house continuing education programs on topics such as interviewing witnesses,
designing and preparing demonstrative exhibits, obtaining documents and evidence through the Freedom of Information Act, and working with trial attorneys (Washington, DC, various dates, 2007-2010).
Sherwood Swim Team and Coaching Experience: Head Coach, Sherwood Swim Team, 2012-2014; Assistant Coach, Sherwood Swim Team, 2001, 2011; Assistant Coach, Liberty Swim Stars, 2001-2002. Red Cross Certified Lifeguard (water rescue), CPR, First Aid
Education
University of Missouri, 2004: Bachelor of Arts, Journalism & History, cum laude,
Columbia Missourian daily newspaper: I worked as a reporter on the metro desk as part of my journalism practicum, contributing to the Associated Press Wire and the Kansas City Star;
My studies included Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, French language, Russian History, humanities and philosophy, investigation, research and public policy debate.