Our Staff
Investigators
Chloe Junge
Prior to joining the Federal Defender’s Office in 2016, Chloe worked for six years at the Center for Family Representation in New York City, most recently as a Social Work Supervisor. She worked in New York City as a family therapist for court-involved youth and was a Project Analyst at the Vera Institute of Justice where she helped develop a reentry program for adolescents incarcerated on Rikers Island. She earned her BA from The New School and her Master’s in Social Work from New York University.
Kevin Ridgley
After graduating from Saint Anselm College in 2004 as a criminal justice major, Kevin worked as a private investigator for two years before joining the MA Public Defenders (CPCS) in 2006. For five years, Kevin investigated hundreds of cases in the Lowell Superior Court, many of which resulted in dismissals or acquittals. In 2012, Kevin joined the Office of the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia. While working in the Norfolk VA office, Kevin and his team won a “life verdict” for an alleged Somali Pirate, saving him from the death penalty. Kevin joined the Vermont Federal Defenders during a temporary appointment in 2010 and following his stint in Virginia, rejoined the office on a permanent basis in 2014. In addition to being the primary fact investigator in the office, Kevin conducts investigation related trainings for the federal bar and also supervises the office’s undergraduate intern program.
Paralegal
Julie Reynolds
Julie joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender in 2023. She brings over 10 years of experience as a paralegal, primarily in civil litigation, working in both Vermont and Tennessee. She recently relocated back to Vermont from Knoxville, Tennessee where she last worked at the Knox County Public Defender’s Office. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology, from Castleton University.
Administrative Officer
Stephanie Baer
Steph received her B.A in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Vermont and her M.S. in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies from Champlain College. Her career has focused on business operations and project management for mission driven organizations. Steph has experience working in the affordable housing, healthcare, and energy efficiency sectors both nationally and locally in Vermont.
Case Management and Administrative Assistant
Brooke Stellman
Brooke joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender in 2022. Brooke received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont. Prior to joining our office, she worked in civil legal services advocating for low-income Vermonters and at the Vermont Judiciary.
Legal Assistant
Jessica Laroche
Jessica joined the office in January of 2025. She is a native of NY who relocated to Vermont in 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice & Psychology. She brings various experiences dating back to 2019 from the Criminal Justice & Psychology Fields respectively. She is a member of various honor societies such as Phi Theta Kappa (Alpha Pi Tau), National Leadership Society of Success, Psi Chi, and Pi Gamma Mu. Jessica has been recognized for her outstanding academic achievements by being named to the Dean’s list, being nominated as an ALL-USA Academic Team (2021), Appointed to the Coca-Cola Academic Team (2022), winning a loose-leaf law publications award (2021) and winning an award for SUNY Chancellor’s Student Excellence (2022).
Computer Systems Administrator
Michael Walke
Michael joined the Vermont Federal Public Defender Office in 2019. He brought 20 years of IT/ System Administrator experience in healthcare, manufacturing and home improvement companies. Michael grew up in southern New Jersey and attended SUNY Cobleskill where he majored in Micro Computer Support. After college his first jobs were working for a cable company installing cable internet service, then at Corning Glass Works as a Computer Technician in Corning, New York, and in several other Upstate New York companies.