Chester Eduardo Fernández
Assistant Professor of Law
Chester Eduardo Fernández teaches Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, and a seminar on Sentencing, Prisons and Reentry. Chester's research and writing focuses on some of the most marginalized communities impacted by the criminal legal system, specifically Transgender and Latinx defendants that don't speak English. Chester serves as the Director of the law school's Criminal Law and Advocacy Concentration, and as Faculty Adviser to the Muslim Law Student Association.
Prior to joining the Quinnipiac Law faculty, Chester worked for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) as their Director of Learning and Innovation. His work at NLADA focused on integrating the voice of those impacted by the American legal system, which disparately impacts BIPOC and other marginalized folks, in trainings to legal aid and public defender attorneys. To this end, Chester is a certified racial justice trainer by the Black Public Defender Association.
Before he worked at the NLADA, Chester worked as a Public Defender in both Massachusetts (Boston/Springfield/Holyoke) and Connecticut (New Britain). While a Public Defender in Connecticut he worked in the Training Unit where he helped Connecticut public defenders learn best practices in providing passionate client-led representation that respects both the agency and humanity of defendants.
In between working as a Public Defender in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Chester served as the Courtroom Deputy for former U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant. Chester loves working with students and has experience doing so as both a law school Career Counselor, as well as a Recruitment Coordinator for the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP.
Chester received his JD from the University of Colorado School of Law, and both an MS in Criminal Justice and MPA from Suffolk University in Boston while working full time as a Regulatory Specialist for the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy. Chester is licensed to practice in Massachusetts state courts and Connecticut state and federal courts.
The son of immigrants from Costa Rica, Chester grew up outside of Boston, speaks Spanish, and is the father of two children.
Prior to joining the Quinnipiac Law faculty, Chester worked for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) as their Director of Learning and Innovation. His work at NLADA focused on integrating the voice of those impacted by the American legal system, which disparately impacts BIPOC and other marginalized folks, in trainings to legal aid and public defender attorneys. To this end, Chester is a certified racial justice trainer by the Black Public Defender Association.
Before he worked at the NLADA, Chester worked as a Public Defender in both Massachusetts (Boston/Springfield/Holyoke) and Connecticut (New Britain). While a Public Defender in Connecticut he worked in the Training Unit where he helped Connecticut public defenders learn best practices in providing passionate client-led representation that respects both the agency and humanity of defendants.
In between working as a Public Defender in Massachusetts and Connecticut, Chester served as the Courtroom Deputy for former U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant. Chester loves working with students and has experience doing so as both a law school Career Counselor, as well as a Recruitment Coordinator for the law firm of Robinson & Cole LLP.
Chester received his JD from the University of Colorado School of Law, and both an MS in Criminal Justice and MPA from Suffolk University in Boston while working full time as a Regulatory Specialist for the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy. Chester is licensed to practice in Massachusetts state courts and Connecticut state and federal courts.
The son of immigrants from Costa Rica, Chester grew up outside of Boston, speaks Spanish, and is the father of two children.
Education
- AS, MassBay Community College
- BA, University of Massachusetts Boston
- MS, Suffolk University
- JD, University of Colorado
Areas of Expertise
- Criminal Justice
- Criminal Law
Organization
- Law
Office Location
- School of Law and Education 160
Mail Drop
- LW-FAC
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