Erika B. Cunliffe

Erika was raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Criminal Justice. She went on to attend Chicago-Kent College of Law and practiced law in Illinois for nine years after receiving her JD. Largely a legal writing and appellate specialist, she worked with criminal defense lawyers throughout Chicago assisting with state and federal criminal matters at the trial and post-conviction level. After moving to Cleveland in 2000, Erika became a staff attorney for Judge Chery Waite in the 7th District Court of Appeals until 2003. Before joining the Cuyahoga County Public Defenders Office in 2005, Erika joined a legal team that handled several capital matters. One involved clemency and late-stage federal litigation in an Indiana capital murder prosecution. The team was able to prevent the inmates execution. Erika has worked in the Public Defenders Appellate/Post-Conviction Unit for the last 17 years. She became Supervisor of that Division in 2021. The unit prides itself on applying creative approaches to appellate and post-conviction litigation. Over the years, the unit has worked with and mentored many student interns to foster ongoing interest in post-conviction work as well as that of the Public Defenders Office generally. Erika is an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University College of Law teaching courses addressed to specific areas of practice in criminal law.