Meet The Broadway Actor Teaching Public Defenders How To Win In Court

On Sunday, June 7, LeeAnne Hutchison was at the Tony Awards watching her Broadway debut Liberation win for Best Play.

The next morning, she woke up and clocked in at The Defenders Academy—a week-long trial skills program for public defenders from across the country.

She’s spent the last two decades using her acting skills to teach lawyers how to be more compelling in court. 

Hutchison and I met over Zoom to talk about what a court room has in common with a theater, and what keeps bringing her back to sharing her talents with public defenders.

Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.