Katrina Eiden

Attorney

It’s only natural that Katrina Eiden would become an attorney. While other children spent their weekends in cub scouts or playing outside, Katrina was with her parents, both law professionals, at rallies and protests speaking for the rights of the voiceless.

It was during these events that Katrina was shown, from her parent’s shoulders, the extent to which her neighbors needed defending. Growing up in this environment helped her find her calling early. These experiences are pivotal to the attorney she’s become today. As she herself will tell you, “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else than fighting for the rights of others.”

The San Diego, native excelled in school as she positioned herself for a career where she “could help people.” After initially considering medicine, Katrina looked toward a career in law. She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in May 2014. After undergraduate studies, she attended the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore, Maryland.

While at the University of Maryland, she served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity and as a Representative of the Black Law Student and Latinx Law Student Associations. The inspiration gained marching by her mother’s side as a child, called her to become a public defender like her, despite being drawn to international law first. The injustices she saw within the justice system while interning at university; a set of laws written ostensibly to harm rather than help minorities, solidified her decision. During her last semester, she joined the Office of the Attorney General, Civil Rights and Litigation Division in Maryland.

Katrina graduated and received her Juris Doctorate in 2017 and became a California State Bar member in 2018. After graduating from law school, Katrina made the move back to California. A veteran of Baltimore, Riverside County, and Los Angeles Public Defender’s offices, Katrina served as Deputy Public Defender in the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office for three years prior to joining Adamson Ahdoot.

“I believe I am upholding the U.S. Constitution and protecting the rights of the people from being infringed on by the government and law enforcement… I am there to make sure my client’s rights are being upheld, and I will fight tooth and nail to make sure of it.” This “mission” is central to Katrina’s work, and she will now have the platform to keep helping people at Adamson Ahdoot.

She is a State Bar of California member and is licensed to practice before the Southern and Central California federal courts. She belongs to the Black Women’s Lawyers Association, the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, the National Lawyers Guild, the National Bar Association, and the John M. Langston Bar Association.

When she isn’t trying to help people, Katrina enjoys hiking and spending time with her dog, a rat terrier named Jade.

AT ADAMSON AHDOOT SINCE:

• January 2023

AWARDS AND HONORS:

• Best Alumni Event, Award: Practitioner’s Dinner
• Phi Alpha Delta, President
• Dean’s List
• Golden Key Honor Society
• International Scholar Laureate
• University Student Government Association, Senator
• Black Public Defenders Association, Parliamentarian Chair

INTERNSHIPS/EXTERNSHIPS:

• Maryland Office of Attorney General, Civil Rights & Litigation Division – Legal Extern – Baltimore, MD
• Office of the Public Defender, Juvenile Division – Legal Extern – Baltimore, MD
• University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law – Research Assistant – Baltimore, MD
• Access to Justice at Bail Clinic – Student Attorney, Rule 19-217 – Baltimore, MD
• Office of the Federal Public Defender, For the Central District Of California – Trial Unit Law Clerk – Los Angeles, CA

OTHER LANGUAGES SPOKEN:

• Spanish – conversational

VOLUNTEER WORK:

• Law Offices of the Public Defender, County of Riverside – Riverside, CA
• Starts With One Today – Los Angeles, CA

PUBLICATIONS:

• If You Must Set Bail, Make it Achievable – Baltimore Sun
• Law Offices of the Los Angeles County Public Defender – Strategic Plan