James M. McGahan
Criminal Law; Family Law
Personal Information:
Mr. McGahan graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and in 2012, graduated from New England Law School with a Juris Doctorate.
He was admitted to the New York and Massachusetts state bars in June 2012.
Mr. McGahan joined the St. Lawrence County Public Defender's Office in June 2014. Prior to that, he worked for the Greene County Public Defender's Office from September 2012 to June 2014.
Laurie L. Paro
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Paro graduated from St. Lawrence University and went on to study at Western New England Law School.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1992.
Ms. Paro worked at a Private Practice focusing on Family and General Law until she was hired by the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s office in 2000.
Since then Ms. Paro has worked for St. Lawrence County at the District Attorney’s Office, Dept. of Social Services Attorney, and the Conflict Defender’s Office. She joined the Public Defender’s Office in September 2019.
David D. Willer
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Willer graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1986. Mr. Willer practiced there for three years.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1990. He has experience practicing Criminal Law, Family Law, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, and Appeals.
Mr. Willer started at the Public Defender’s Office in December 2019.
Thomas C. Finnerty, Jr.
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Finnerty graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, FL in May of 1998. He started work as an Assistant DA in St. Lawrence County in August 1998.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in January 1999.
Mr. Finnerty joined the Public Defender’s Office in September 2020.
Alison B. Appleby
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Appleby graduated from Albany Law School.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2007.
Ms. Appleby started at the Public Defender’s Office in June 2011. She has also worked at the St. Lawrence County Attorney’s Office as a Deputy County Attorney.
Ms. Appleby rejoined the Public Defender’s Office in May 2021.
Kathryn A. Exoo
Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Exoo graduated from Buffalo Law School in 2013.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2014.
Ms. Exoo started at the Public Defender’s Office in 2015. She has previously worked at St. Lawrence County Family Court.
Ms. Exoo rejoined the Public Defender’s Office in January 2022.
Bohang Liu
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Mr. Liu graduated from Touro Law Center after participating in the 2 year accelerated Juris Doctorate program.
He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2021.
Mr. Liu joined the Public Defender’s Office in January 2022.
Brenna J. Ryan
Family Law; Criminal Law
Personal Information:
Ms. Ryan graduated from the University Of Texas, School Of Law in 2002 and has practiced law in the state of Arkansas for several years.
She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2011 and mostly practices Family Law.
Ms. Ryan started at the Public Defender’s Office in January 2023.
***To find out the status of your case, your next scheduled court date, or to set up an telephone/office appointment, you can email the Attorney's Secretary.
If your Attorney is: James McGahan, David Willer, Thomas Finnerty, Alison Appleby or Kathryn Exoo.
- Please email Kristen at krreed@stlawco.org or Whitney at wmiller@stlawco.org.
If your Attorney is: Laurie Paro, Brenna Ryan or Bohang Liu.
- Please email Krista at kbalster@stlawco.org.
Please be advised that every effort is made to get back to you by email the same day, but depending on the day to day workload you may not get an email back until the next day.
Thank you for your patience.
