Kathryn Batey

Kathryn Batey has spent the entirety of her legal career defending clients against the justice system. Kathryn graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law in 2012 and went to work immediately for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, where she was eventually promoted to Deputy District Public Defender for Southern Maryland. In 2023, she left the office to build her own firm – Safe Harbor Criminal Defense, and is now proud to co-found Southern Maryland Criminal Defense. Kathryn is also barred in Virginia and has previously practiced criminal defense litigation in Virginia General District Court, Circuit Courts, and in the federal Eastern District of Virginia. In 2023, she served as an adjunct Legal Rhetoric and Writing Profession at American University’s Washington College of Law. Throughout her career, Kathryn has handled every type of criminal case imaginable in front of both judges and juries and is experienced in navigating the legal system to get the best possible outcome for each case.

Kathryn lives in Alexandria, VA with her two children and is an avid marathon runner, cross stitcher, and television aficionado.

Maryland

Supreme Court of Maryland

Principal

Southern Maryland Criminal Defense

2023 - 2024

Maryland Office of the Public Defender

2013 - 2023

Law Office of Chris Leibig

2014 - 2015

American University Washington College of Law

J.D. (2012)

2009 - 2012

University of the South

B.A. (2007) | Political Science

2003 - 2007

Honors: Cum Laude

Charles County Bar Association

Current

Prince George's County Bar Association

Current

Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Current

Maryland State Bar Association

Current

Lost in Translation, Office of the Public Defender Annual Conference, Cambridge Maryland

June 2, 2025

Maryland Office of the Public Defender

Keynote Presentation, Charles County Law Day, La Plata MD

April 30, 2025

Charles County Bar Association