Samantha Herd is the Staff Attorney at PDA.
Samantha Herd has dedicated her career to expanding access to justice and securing equitable outcomes for all. For nearly two decades, Samantha operated a solo criminal defense and civil litigation practice while simultaneously serving as a public defender across multiple jurisdictions. Throughout this time, her work has consistently centered on trauma-informed, client-centered advocacy for vulnerable populations, including veterans, unhoused individuals, and people with behavioral health needs.
A member of both the Washington State Bar Association and the State Bar of Arizona (inactive), Samantha also formerly chaired the State Bar of Arizona’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Committee.
Outside of the legal sphere, Samantha is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and an enthusiastic tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) player and game master. Her greatest pride is her two sons, Robert and Matthew, both of whom are currently serving in the United States Navy.