criminaldefense@tuckerlaw.com

(717) 234-4121

(412) 671-5525

Tucker Arensberg Attorneys Criminal Defense Group
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Attorney Profiles

Heidi R. Freese

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Attorney Heidi Freese casual photo.

Phone

(717) 221-7967

Email

hfreese@tuckerlaw.com

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Presentations & Trainings

Heidi is a regular presenter and speaker. Some of her recent speaking and teaching engagements include:

  • Office of  Judicial Integrity, Circuit Director of Workplace Conduct Coordinators  (May 2024)
  • “Walking the Line Between Boss and Friend with Greater Ease and Confidence,” Federal Defender Leadership Forum, National Defender Leadership Conference in Chicago, IL (2022)
  • “Equal Justice for All: Addressing Unconscious Bias in the Courtroom,” Keynote Speaker, Herbert B. Cohen American Inn of Court (2021)
  • National Conference of Federal Defenders, Leadership Panel in Austin, TX (2021)
  • “SmartTalk Tuesday: Federal Justice System Adapts to Pandemic”, WITF Radio, National Public Radio (2020)
  • “Plan for the Reinstitution of Jury Trials,” Middle District of Pennsylvania, Webinar Panelist
  • “Problem Solving I: The Lawyer and Client,” Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Instructor (2016-2019)
  • “Lawyering in a Global World: Context and Competencies,” Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Guest Lecturer (2016-2019)
  • “Federal Criminal Law Update,” Dauphin County Bar Association, Instructor (2018)
  • Triston “Chase” O’Savio Intraschool Moot Court Competition, Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Judge (2018-2023)
  • Trial Skills Workshop, “Mastering Technology to Present, Persuade, and Prevail,” Federal Bar Association and Office of the Federal Public Defender, Instructor (2018)
  • “First Step Act: Practice Trip and Unexpected Traps,” Charles F. Greevy, Jr. American Inn of Court and Federal Public Defender’s Office, Panelist (2018)
  • “Drug Crimes in Pennsylvania,” Dickinson Law Criminal Society, Panelist (2016)
  • “Rethinking Reentry: Prosecution, Defense, and Human Rights Perspective,” Penn State Law Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, Panelist (2016)
  • “Technology in the Courtroom,” Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Faculty Instructor (2015)
  • “Federal Criminal Practice,” Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Guest Lecturer (2012-2019)
  • ATLA Trial Team, Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Professional Coach (2004-2006)
Practice Areas
  • Criminal Defense
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
Bar Admissions
  • Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
Education
  • The Dickinson School of Law (JD)
  • Millersville University (BA)
Professional & Community Affiliations
  • Federal Bar Association, Member
  • National Association of Federal Defenders, Member
  • National Association of Public Defenders, Member
  • Pennsylvania Classics Soccer Club, Board Member
  • Northern Girls Basketball, Vice President
  • Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Club, Arbitrator 
  • Northern High School, Mock Trial Coach
  • Dickinson Law School, Criminal Law Society Advisor
  • Dillsburg Area Soccer Club, former President
Appointments & Federal Court Work
  • Appointed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2017 for a renewable four year term. Reappointed in 2021.
    • Two cases went before the U.S. Supreme Court during her 2023-2024 term
  • Federal Court Work:
    • Third Circuit Advisory Committee: Chair (2023), Vice-Chair (2022)
    • CJA Management & Selection Committee: Co-Chair with Chief Judge (2017-2024)
    • United States Magistrate Judge Reappointment Committee (Martin C. Carlson, 2017)
    • United States Magistrate Judge Selection Committee (Daryl F. Bloom, 2023)
    • Plan for Reinstitution of Jury Proceedings, Drafted and Presented with Court
    • MDPA COVID-19 Committee
    • Bench Bar Committee: Served on Board of Judges committee, 2016

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Heidi R. Freese

Experienced Federal Public Defender and Legal Educator.

Heidi R. Freese is an accomplished attorney with extensive experience in federal litigation, professional responsibility, and workplace conduct matters. She previously dedicated much of her career to the defense of indigent federal criminal defendants and now brings that deep litigation and leadership experience to a broader practice that includes professional licensure defense, significant workplace investigations, and federal civil litigation.

Heidi was appointed as the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in September 2017 and was reappointed in 2021. During her tenure, the office’s appellate unit litigated two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2023–2024 term, reflecting her involvement in high-stakes, complex litigation. As Federal Public Defender, Heidi managed an active caseload while overseeing all aspects of the office’s operations, including attorney supervision, staff management, and the selection and oversight of Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys.

In addition to her leadership responsibilities, Heidi developed substantial experience addressing attorney conduct, ethics, and compliance issues. She has conducted and overseen sensitive workplace investigations involving allegations of misconduct, discrimination, and violations of professional standards, and she regularly advises on professional responsibility and licensure-related matters. Her practice also includes federal civil litigation, where she applies her extensive courtroom experience to complex factual and legal disputes.

Prior to her appointment as Federal Public Defender, Heidi served for ten years as an Assistant Federal Public Defender. In that role, she acted as lead counsel in hundreds of federal criminal cases, litigated complex pretrial and competency motions, conducted numerous jury and non-jury trials, and represented defendants and witnesses in grand jury investigations. She also has significant experience in complex sentencing proceedings and non-capital habeas corpus litigation, including a case that resulted in the overturning of a York County murder conviction in federal court.

Earlier in her career, Heidi served as a Juvenile Delinquency Master for the York County Court of Common Pleas, presiding over emergency detention and delinquency hearings, conducting restitution hearings, and drafting findings of fact and recommendations to the court. She also practiced criminal defense in the private sector, representing hundreds of court-appointed clients, serving as a CJA panel attorney, and earning death penalty certification.

Heidi is also active in legal education and professional development. She serves as Adjunct Faculty at Penn State Dickinson Law, where she teaches Federal Criminal Practice and serves as the Criminal Justice Externship Faculty Advisor. She frequently lectures on ethics, leadership, workplace conduct, and litigation topics and has been involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives at the local, regional, and national levels.