Photo credit: Todd Nelson

Cullin Smith | Executive director & chief counsel

Cullin has been with the Neighborhood Justice Center since 2007, first serving as a Staff Attorney and Director of Community Outreach. In 2013, the Board of Directors named him as the Executive Director. Cullin received his B.A., Summa Cum Laude, from Hamline University, and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. He has worked for judges in both State and Federal Court, and has worked internationally on criminal matters in the English Crown Courts. Cullin has served on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Lavender Bar Association, protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ community members, on the Board of Directors of the SOBER Foundation, and as a Trustee on the Board of Trustees at a local elementary school. Cullin is a passionate advocate in the courtroom and in the community, who believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to be represented by a zealous, talented attorney who will fight for their rights against the vast power of the State.

csmith@njcinc.org – 651 222 4703 ext. 103

Katie Allen | Attorney and Director of law Clerks

Katie received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota and her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law. While in law school, Katie clerked with the organization as a recipient award of the Minnesota Justice Foundation. After graduating, she worked at a small firm doing criminal defense where she successfully represented individuals in high profile felonies and obtained numerous not-guilty verdicts. Katie joined the Neighborhood Justice Center in 2014 as a staff attorney. In addition to criminal defense representation, Katie leads the organization’s volunteer program and manages legal interns and student certified attorneys. She also serves as the staff defense attorney for the Mental Health and Adult Substance Abuse Courts in Ramsey County. Katie has two children, enjoys singing loudly in her car, and strives to help individuals achieve fair and just results in a system that oftentimes works against defendants.

kallen@njcinc.org – 651 222 4703 ext. 108

LUIS RANGEL MORALES | Attorney and Director of COMMUNITY engagement

Luis graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas and Cum Laude from the University of Minnesota Law School. In 2015 he joined the organization as a staff attorney after working for a small firm. In addition to his criminal defense work, Luis currently serves as the Chair of the City of St. Paul Planning Commission and is the Vice Chair of St. Paul’s Board of Zoning Appeals. He also sits on the Ramsey County Council for Domestic Abuse, Minnesota’s Criminal Sexual Conduct Statutory Reform Group, and represents participants in Ramsey County’s DUI and Veterans Treatment Courts. Luis volunteers with organizations helping at-risk youth and provides legal presentations to high schools, non-profits, and other organizations. He believes in living a minimalist lifestyle, promoting financial empowerment, advancing social justice issues, and is an avid biker. He is fluent in Spanish.

lrangel@njcinc.org – 651 222 4703 ext. 106

LUKE REZAC | Attorney

Luke obtained his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and his law degree from the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Luke began volunteering for the organization in 2010 and provided over 700 hours of community legal service as a student certified attorney. Due to his dedication, his law school recognized him with their 2012 “Living the Mission Award.” Upon graduating, Luke joined a small criminal defense firm dedicated to the same social and civil efforts that the Neighborhood Justice Center upholds. He began his solo practice in 2014, with the same focus and with a special emphasis on providing a sliding fee scale. Throughout his entire time in private practice, Luke has continued to volunteer and take numerous pro bono cases through the Neighborhood Justice Center. Luke received the Ramsey County Pro Bono Award in 2015 based upon his volunteer work for the organization and the community. In 2017, Luke joined the organization as a part-time staff attorney.

lrezac@njcinc.org – 651 307 8706

hEATHER sIA | aTTORNEY

Heather joined NJC in January 2021 as a staff attorney. She received both her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota. Throughout law school, Heather worked as a certified student attorney with the Ramsey County Public Defender. After law school, she moved to Alaska and worked for a small firm in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for 15 years focusing on personal injury, criminal defense, child protection, and family law. Heather strongly believes in contributing both personally and professionally to the communities where she works and lives. She primarily volunteers with organizations that focus on youth development and leadership. She also does pro bono work through legal services organizations, and provides legal observation and support for the social change movement that was ignited by the killing of George Floyd. In her spare time, Heather is busy with her three children, and spends as much time as she can outdoors being active.

hsia@njcinc.org — 651 222 4703

Charlotte Lenkaitis | Community Advocate & Investigator

Charlotte joined NJC in the spring of 2022 as a Community Advocate & Investigator. In her role, she works with potential clients, investigates facts, and assists attorneys with court communication and case preparation. Charlotte also conducts digital and in-person legal outreach for NJC. A recent 2021 graduate from the University of Iowa, she holds a B.A. in Spanish & Global Health Studies, with a minor in Environmental Policy & Planning. Prior to joining NJC, Charlotte served as the Executive Director of the Food Pantry at Iowa, as well as an intern for When We All Vote. A passionate advocate for social justice, Charlotte believes it is absolutely necessary to catch people that fall through the social safety net. She enjoys working for an organization that is working to advance racial equity in Minnesota, especially as it pertains to the criminal justice system.

Charlotte is an avid outdoors person and loves running, biking, roller blading and hiking. She’s also a whiz at making vegan sushi and likes kitting—especially hats.

clenkaitis@njcinc.org – 651 222 4703 x 107

Elizabeth Humphreys | Community Advocate & Investigator

Elizabeth (Libby) Humphreys joined NJC in the fall of 2021 as a Community Advocate & Investigator. Before joining the organization, Libby worked as a court operations associate with the Ramsey District Court.  She served as the criminal expungement clerk, and also spent time in the Traffic and Violations Bureau as well as the criminal e-filing team.  Prior to that, she was a data analyst at the US Sentencing Commission. Libby obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Criminology from the University of Cincinnati. As part of her role at NJC, Libby leads our expungement work, for which she is very passionate. She believes expungements provide second chances for members of our community, and enjoys serving the public in this meaningful way. 

Libby’s spouse is a retired Marine turned lawyer. As such, she has called home to many places around the United States: Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Virginia (twice), Missouri, North Carolina, and Minnesota (now twice). When not working, Libby enjoys spending time with her three daughters and their family, binge watching TV, catching the latest Marvel movie, and playing with her big pet family of two dogs, two cats and two ferrets.

ehumphreys@njcinc.org – 651 222 4703 x 109

Damaris Zamora-Aguilon | Bonner Scholar Intern

Damaris is a 2nd-year student at Macalester College, majoring in Political Science and International Studies with a Legal Studies Concentration. She is interested in specializing in international criminal law and international relations. Damaris is a Bonner and Questbridge Scholar, and in their respective leadership positions as well. As a Bonner Scholar Intern, Damaris will be working with NJC for the next two years helping to expand our outreach and engagement efforts. When not in school, you could typically find Damaris in a coffee shop or walking down the Mississippi River. And during her breaks, she enjoys traveling around the country and visiting state parks.