Kara Hoopis Manosh

Kara Hoopis Manosh is a Rhode Island criminal defense attorney at Manosh Payette, LLC  who has devoted her career to protecting people accused of crimes. She has handled thousands of cases and has appeared in every courthouse across Rhode Island. She has substantial experience working with expert witnesses and addressing scientific evidence at trial. Her defense practice includes serious felony cases, homicide, gun offenses, drug crimes, sex crimes, theft, domestic cases, probation violations, and expungements. She approaches each matter with the goal of protecting her client’s dignity, rights, freedom, and future.

Kara earned her B.A. from the University of Rhode Island in 2002 and her J.D. from Roger Williams School of Law in 2005. She received her LL.M. in Trial Advocacy, specializing in federal criminal law, from California Western School of Law in 2006. She also completed national training through the Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy, National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute, Defender Advocacy Institute, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Her continuing education has included federal appellate advocacy, sentencing advocacy, sexual assault defense, gang and RICO matters, and federal death penalty trial work.

Kara began her legal career with the California Innocence Project’s Case Screening Unit in 2005 and later served as an extern with Federal Defenders of San Diego in 2006. She joined the Rhode Island Office of the Public Defender in 2007 and served in its Adult Trial Division through 2011. She became attorney-in-charge for Newport County in 2011 and later worked in the Appellate Division through 2014. She has been admitted in Rhode Island and Massachusetts since 2005 and is also admitted before federal courts.

Kara Hoopis Manosh combines extensive courtroom experience with advanced training in forensic and scientific evidence. She has worked with issues involving DNA, neuropsychology, ballistics, fingerprints, forensic pathology, cell-site analysis, confessions, and fire science. She serves on multiple state and federal court-appointed panels and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Rhode Island Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Her client-centered approach continues beyond the final court decision, as she remains available to help former clients rebuild their lives after criminal proceedings.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Manosh Payette Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Massachusetts Bar Association

Licensed State

• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts

Education

• California Western School of Law
  Master of Laws (LLM)
• Roger Williams School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Rhode Island
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges