About me
Jackie Wright is a Capital and Conflicts Attorney at the Arkansas Public Defender Commission (APDC), where she has dedicated over a decade of service to death penalty cases as lead counsel. With a strong commitment to the development of public defenders, Jackie has played a pivotal role in organizing and chairing the APDC’s Annual Conference for the past three years, fostering professional growth and collaboration within the public defender community.
Jackie’s passion for mentorship and legal education extends to her work with Arkansas’s law schools. She designed and launched a Public Defender Externship Course in partnership with both of the state's law schools. This innovative program provides law students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working at local public defender offices during the summer, earning course credit in the process.
Currently, Jackie is spearheading the creation of the APDC Trial College, an ambitious initiative to train Arkansas’s newest public defenders. This program will feature a distinguished faculty of over forty renowned local and national attorneys, providing comprehensive training for the next generation of legal professionals.
Beyond her work in the legal field, Jackie is deeply involved in her community. She serves as an usher at her church and has held leadership roles on several non-profit boards and commissions. Jackie is also an accomplished speaker, having presented at local churches, organizations, and continuing legal education courses. Additionally, she has served as an adjunct professor at local colleges and the UALR William H. Bowen School of Law.
