Nyssa Taylor

Nyssa Taylor joined the ACLU-PA in 2017 and now serves as the organization’s criminal justice strategic litigation and policy counsel. She served as an assistant public defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia from 2005 until 2016. At the Defender Association, she engaged in strategic litigation focused on criminal justice reform and was responsible for the appellate briefs that overturned Pennsylvania’s long-time ban on expert witnesses in identification cases. In 2013, the Defender Association awarded Nyssa the Clarence Earl Gideon Award for Outstanding Service and the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers awarded her the Bernard L. Siegel Memorial Award for Service. In addition, Nyssa taught trial skills for three years at Temple University, Beasley School of Law, as a trial team coach and adjunct professor. Ms. Taylor earned her Juris Doctor from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 2005 and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Swarthmore College in 2000. (Philadelphia)