Jan Dowling, J.D.

For more than 35 years, Jan Dowling has represented men and women facing the most severe penalties in the American justice system — death and life without the possibility of parole (LWOP). Her work centers on developing comprehensive life-history narratives that provide courts and juries with a complete understanding of the individual beyond the offense.

Jan has developed mitigation evidence in 68 trial-level capital cases, ten capital post-conviction cases, six federal habeas cases, and four LWOP matters. Her work includes exhaustive social history investigations, preparation of detailed mitigation reports, comprehensive records collection and analysis, identification of issues requiring expert evaluation, and coordination with medical, mental health, neuropsychological, andother forensic experts.

She works closely with defense counsel to integrate mitigation into both guilt and penalty phase strategy. Her experience includes assisting with exhibit development, preparing direct and cross-examination outlines, and contributing to opening statements and closing arguments. Throughout her career, she has been a consistent advocate for indigent clients, individuals with serious mental illness, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Jan began her legal career as an attorney with the Indiana State Public Defender’s Office, representing capital defendants in post-conviction proceedings.

Although born and raised in Indiana, she spent sixteen years in New Mexico, where she worked on capital cases across Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Michigan, Washington, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Since returning to Indiana, she continues to handle federal and state capital cases, non-capital matters, and Michigan juvenile lifer cases.

Jan has served as faculty for Life in the Balance, the Indiana Death Penalty Seminar, and the National Association of Sentencing Advocates Annual Seminar. She has also mentored public defender offices in Marion and Lawrence Counties.