Charisma Howell
Prior to joining the Executive Office of the Mayor as the Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Charisma X. Howell was a Visiting Professor and Clinic Co-Director at Georgetown University Law Center.
She has conducted research in the areas of education policy, accountability, assessment and best practices. Mrs. Howell is a practicing lawyer and is a successful trial attorney. Mrs. Howell amassed numerous academic and trial skills related awards. Mrs. Howell participated in the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacys Trial Skills Academy. Although the only student among 75 trial attorneys, Mrs. Howell was named "Best Advocate." She won a not guilty verdict in her first criminal jury trial as a Post Bar Clerk for the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. Ms. Howell has worked for the Honorable Judge John A. Houston of the United States District Court, Southern District of California and also interned at the California Innocence project which seeks the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners in California. Mrs. Howell attended Arizona State University achieving a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with an emphasis in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She obtained her law degree from California Western School of Law and her Master of Laws in Advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center.