J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law
B.A., Brown University
Beth Merkin spent her thirty-three-year career as a public defender in New Haven where she represented indigent persons who were accused of committing serious felony offenses. She has handled thousands of complex criminal matters at every stage of the court process where clients faced charges ranging from murder, to sexual assault, to serious assaults, to robberies and home invasions. She has tried many cases to verdict, including thirteen homicides.
Professor Merkin has significant experience with investigative preparation, plea-bargain negotiations, motions practice, sentencing mitigation, and the handling of post-conviction litigation. She developed particular interest in the areas of DNA and other forensic disciplines, child abuse cases, mental health defenses and competency claims, the law of interrogations, and juvenile re-sentencing issues. Professor Merkin has extensive experience interfacing with collateral agencies such as DCF, DOC, DMHAS, Probation, Parole, and other community-based mental health and substance-abuse providers. She was the supervising attorney for the New Haven Judicial District Public Defender’s Office for the last several years of her service.
Professor Merkin was an active mentor and supervisor to many student interns during the entirety of her career, on both the undergraduate and law school levels. She frequently worked with the legal clinic at Yale Law School, and she directly supervised Liman Fellows who had been placed in the New Haven public defender’s office. She has been an adjunct professor at Gateway Community College for many years, where she taught various courses in the Criminal Justice Department. She also provided trainings on an ongoing basis to newly-hired public defenders, to hearing officers at the Department of Parole, and to SAFE forensic nurses. From 2021-2022, she served as the Interim Inspector General for the City of Hartford, where she investigated and reviewed citizen complaints of police misconduct. Professor Merkin also holds an adjunct teaching position at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she is a clinical fellow at its Criminal Defense Clinic.
Beth Merkin, a lecturer of criminal justice, says it would be highly unlikely the judge will grant former President Donald Trump's legal team a change of venue motion at his arraignment.
Beth Merkin, a lecturer in criminal justice, discusses a case in which a man who was not prosecuted for murder because he was found not competent and not restorable, who may now be eligible for release into a supportive house.
Beth Merkin, lecturer of criminal justice, comments on why the court is trying to study other occasions in which a cooperator was sentenced in order to weigh what type of discounts should be given to the defendants who cooperated in this case.
Beth Merkin, lecturer of criminal justice, comments on the case of Randy Cox, an individual paralyzed in police custody, and if the police arrested will seek Accelerated Rehabilitation, which a judge must approve.
Beth Merkin, a lecturer of criminal justice, explains what accelerated rehabilitation is and how it works in the State of Connecticut.
Beth Merkin, a lecturer of criminal justice, talks about why WNBA star Britney Griner would plead guilty to drug charges in Russia and examines whether the President of the United States would intercede.
Beth Merkin will be stepping into an interim role as inspector general for Hartford’s Civilian Police Review Board, a new role tasked with investigating police use of force among other duties.