DPA’s Division of Conflict and Contract Services was established to build a statewide indigent conflict system and improve the quality of DPA’s existing conflict defense program that supports individuals represented through contract conflict counsel statewide. The Conflict Services Division provides program support to DPA’s 36 trial offices, Post-Trial Division and over 180 conflict attorneys. The Conflict Services Division’s focus is to provide programmatic leadership, resource management and dedicated training opportunities for conflict attorneys. Through committed support and general oversight, the Division seeks to improve on the ongoing quality of DPA’s conflict services. DPA seeks to provide parity in representation for all clients by promoting a holistic conflict defense program while affording increased resources to private conflict counsel to achieve that goal.
DPA is continually recruiting dedicated attorneys to represent DPA conflict clients through contracts in all 120 counties. Attorneys interested in this important work should contact Brad Holajter at Brad.Holajter@ky.gov to inquire about opportunities available in their area.
Division of Conflict and Contract Services Phone Number
(502) 564-3303
Client Jail Phone Number
(502) 564-2352
Brad Holajter | Conflict and Contract Services Division Director
Brad Holajter is the first Director of the Conflict and Contract Services Division at the Department of Public Advocacy. Brad returned to DPA in 2020 after serving as Executive Director of the Office of Management and Administrative Services (OMAS) at the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet (JPSC), since 2017. As Executive Director of OMAS, Brad provided support to the JPSC’s departments, officers, and employees on all matters related to human resources, budget, fiscal, Information technology and administrative operations.
Brad began his career in 2004 with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy as a Public Advocate Investigator, specializing in capital trials investigations and mitigation defenses. In 2013, Brad was appointed Director of the Law Operations Division. In this role, Brad was instrumental in the opening of the Georgetown, Nicholasville, Princeton, and Shelbyville Trial Offices as well as in the development and implementation of the Defender Services Branch, which was created to assist in monitoring and providing data related to DPA’s Alternative Sentencing Workers (ASWs). Brad has worked closely with DPA’s Education Branch to educate Attorneys, Investigators, ASWs, and Leaders to improve client-centered representation and leadership skills. Currently, Brad manages Kentucky’s statewide indigent conflict defense system, with a focus on growing and improving the quality of DPA’s conflict defense statewide. Brad Holajter graduated with a JD from Syracuse University College of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree from Indiana University. You can reach Brad Holajter by email or phone at (502) 782-0009.
Leo Smith | Conflict and Contract Services Division Assistant Director
Leo G. Smith is the Assistant Director of the Division of Conflict & Contract Services. Prior to his current position he served for over 40 years with the Louisville-Jefferson County Public Defender Corporation, first as a staff trial attorney, and then held several leadership positions, including Chief of the Adult Trial Division, Director of Training, Deputy Chief Public Defender, and Chief Public Defender/Executive Director. A Louisville native, he attended St. Xavier High School, and graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce with high honors. Thereafter, he graduated cum laude from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, where he served as Executive Editor of the Law Review. He was also a member of the Brandeis Honor Society and, upon graduation, received the Robert C. Jayes Memorial Award. His work was recognized by the Department of Public Advocacy and the Kentucky Bar Association in 1999 with the presentation of its first Professionalism and Excellence Award. In 2015 he received the prestigious Gideon Award: Trumpeting Counsel for Kentucky’s Poor from the Department of Public Advocacy. The Louisville Bar Association presented him with the Distinguished Service Award in 2021. He also is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Louisville’s Brandeis School of Law where for many years he co-taught a criminal defense externship. He has authored several articles on criminal defense practice that have been published. Mr. Smith has served on the Board of Directors of the Louisville Bar Association (LBA) and is a former member of the Board of the Louisville Bar Foundation. He is past Chair of the Criminal Law Section of both the Kentucky Bar Association and the LBA, as well as a former member of the LBA Professional Responsibility Committee. Mr. Smith has served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (KACDL). He serves as a Master in the Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court. Mr. Smith was trial counsel in the case of Griffith v. Kentucky, 107 S.Ct. 708 (1987), which decided the retroactivity question left open in the landmark case of Batson v. Kentucky. He has acted as lead counsel in numerous jury trials, including several death penalty cases. He has received numerous Walker Awards in recognition of excellence of advocacy in felony jury trials that resulted in verdicts of acquittal for his clients.