Jean D. Barrett began her legal career as a trial attorney in the New Jersey State Public Defender’s Office. Since 1983, she has been in private practice with her husband, David Ruhnke, at Ruhnke & Barrett in Montclair, New Jersey. In the course of her career, Ms. Barrett, whose practice involves trial, appellate, state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus work, has tried nine capital murder cases, including three federal cases, to life verdicts and litigated a New Jersey two state post-conviction cases which resulted in penalty phase relief, and ultimately, life sentences. She currently represents an additional New Jersey death-sentenced inmate in post-conviction proceedings and has been appointed as learned counsel in more than 25 potential death penalty cases by courts in four different federal districts.