Attorney, Adjunct Professor
Orange County, CA
Carolyn Carlisle has served as a career prosecutor in Southern California for over 30 years. She has tried approximately 120 cases to jury verdict and has also conducted innumerable other proceedings such as bench trials and “lifer” parole hearings, reviewed officer-involved shootings, handled appellate matters and motions and served as the office’s Hate Crimes prosecutor. During her career, she was assigned to specialized units including Homicide, Sexual Assault, Appellate and Training, Special Prosecutions, and Family Protection. Carolyn retired from full-time work in 2018 but has continued to represent her office on a part-time basis.
Carolyn has also worked in academia for seven years. As an adjunct professor, she teaches a clinical course at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law, and courses including criminal law, constitutional criminal procedure, and ethics and diversity at California State University, Long Beach.
Carolyn has served on the board of directors of her county’s bar association, and has chaired and served on several of its committees. Ten years ago, she and three other attorneys founded the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association (TMBA), an organization dedicated to increased diversity and opportunity for AfroAmerican attorneys. She subsequently served on the TMBA Board of Directors, and as its President.
Carolyn received a BA with Honors in the College of Social Studies from Wesleyan University. She received her JD from Yale Law School.