Heather Cessna

Heather Cessna

Visiting Assistant Professor
RoomRoom 213Phone785.670.1660
Justice is a promise we make to each other—but in Kansas, that promise is too often broken for those who are poor or live in legal deserts. My career has been dedicated to ensuring that no one is denied counsel because of geography or income, and I bring that same commitment to the classroom. In teaching legal research and writing, I emphasize clarity, ethics, and advocacy, helping students develop the skills to serve all communities—especially those most often overlooked. Legal writing is more than technique; it’s a tool for justice.

Degrees & Certifications

  • Baker University, Bachelor of Arts
  • The University of Kansas, Juris Doctor

Teaching

  • LW 876 A3, Lgl Analysis Rsrch Writing II
  • LW 876 B3, Lgl Analysis Rsrch Writing II

Heather Cessna joined the Washburn University School of Law faculty in 2025 after serving six years as Executive Director of the Kansas State Board of Indigents' Defense Services. In that role, she championed the rights of indigent Kansans and led statewide efforts to improve ethical workloads and equitable funding for public defenders and appointed counsel. Under her leadership, Kansas increased public defense funding by over 70% and expanded staffing by more than 40%, earning her national recognition as a leading voice on public defense reform.

Previously, Professor Cessna served for 17 years as Deputy Appellate Defender at the Kansas Appellate Defender Office, where she represented indigent clients in direct criminal appeals before the Kansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Her deep appellate experience informs her teaching and scholarship in legal research and writing.

A frequent CLE presenter, she speaks on topics including public defender workloads, legal ethics, attorney well-being, legislative advocacy, legal research and writing, and appellate practice. She serves on the Kansas Supreme Court’s Pretrial Justice Task Force, the National Association for Public Defense Workload Committee, and the Kansas Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee.