Kathryn Marie Hayes joined DePaul in 2025. She is an assistant public defender at the Cook County Public Defender's Office, where she represents clients in primarily felony criminal cases. Prior to joining DePaul, she worked in various roles focused on criminal defense, 1983 civil rights claims and post-conviction matters.
Kathryn earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, graduating in the top 10% of her class with a Certificate in Criminal Law. She was a regional finalist in the Texas Young Lawyers Association National Trial Competition. She holds a B.A. in English and Communication Studies from Augustana College, where she graduated magna cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She is admitted to practice in the state of Illinois.