Patti Powers
JD, Attorney Advisor, Aequitas
Patti 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 a Senior Attorney Advisor at AEquitas.
During her twenty-seven-year tenure as a prosecutor in Washington State, Powers 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. Powers 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. Powers 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, Powers 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 serving as a prosecutor and supervising her office’s Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Unit, Powers 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. Her 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, medical and other allied professionals, has been essential to Patti’s successful prosecution of violent crime. Powers received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Idaho State University and Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law.