Senior Attorney Advisor
AEquitas
Washington, DC
Patricia D. Powers brings extensive litigation expertise as a well-respected trial attorney and Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who specialized in sexual violence, domestic violence, child sexual and physical abuse, homicides, and cold cases to her role as an Attorney Advisor at AEquitas. During her twenty-seven year tenure as a prosecutor in Washington State, Patti developed a reputation as a tireless advocate for justice by taking even the most complex cases to trial, including two cold case homicides that were later featured on episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn.
Patti has been invited to contribute to global events as a subject matter expert since 1998 and has consistently promoted innovative trial strategies that successfully inform a jury’s response to the evidence introduced in the most complex cases. Patti was also appointed as a Highly Qualified Expert on an intermittent basis for the United States Army Criminal Investigative Division. During her tenure as a Highly Qualified Expert, Patti consulted on sexual assault and domestic violence cases involving members of the armed forces and provided specialized training for Criminal Investigations (CID) Special Agents and members of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
While still serving as a prosecutor and supervising her office's Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit, Patti contributed to the curriculum and served as the prosecutor presenter for an educational series by Legal Momentum’s National Judicial Education Program, entitled Understanding Sexual Violence Prosecuting Adult Rape and Sexual Assault Cases. She was also appointed to membership in the John Gavin Chapter of American Inns of Court with the distinction of Master of the Bar. Patti’s passion for justice and commitment to victims is best expressed by the words she frequently shares at trainings: “In my heart, I will always be a prosecutor.”
Collaboration, including close coordination with law enforcement, forensic examiners , victim advocates and other allied professionals, has been essential to Patti's successful prosecution of violent crime. As a result, she co-founded a county sexual assault task force in Yakima and faithfully served as a member of the Domestic Violence Fatality and Child Fatality Review Committees for Yakima-Kittitas County and the Washington State Child Fatality Review Technical Assistance Committee.
Patti was honored to receive the 2024 Joanne Archambault Visionary Award from Ending Violence Against Women International (EVAWI).
