Veterans Defense Project Board
Chair: Brockton Hunter
Brock Hunter is a criminal defense attorney and former Army Scout who has represented many veterans, including several high-profile cases. A past President and Legislative Chair for the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), Brock drafted and led the passage of Minnesota’s Veterans Sentencing Mitigation Act, Minn. Stat. § 609.115, subd. 10, and has since helped pass similar legislation in other states. He has been recognized nationally for his work on behalf of veterans in the justice system, being called on to help brief the Obama Presidential Transition Team, the leadership of the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Brock has also spoken before thousands of attorneys, judges, and other justice system and mental health professionals across the country on the special issues surrounding veterans in the criminal courts.
Treasurer: Thomas C. Plunkett
Tom Plunkett is a criminal defense lawyer with both a state and federal court practice. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Plunkett was an officer and attack helicopter pilot in the United States Army and Army Reserve. After completing law school, Mr. Plunkett left Army Aviation to join the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. Mr. Plunkett's talents as an attorney were called on by the military to draft the Minnesota Military Code and Minnesota Rules for Court Martial. Mr. Plunkett “wrote the book” for military courts in Minnesota. This code has subsequently been used as the model for many other states. Mr. Plunkett has defended many veterans facing criminal charges, including a high profile federal bank robbery case.
Secretary: Evan Tsai
Evan Tsai is an Assistant Public Defender in Ramsey County, Minnesota where he practices primarily criminal defense. Mr. Tsai devotes his professional time to representing the poor and indigent in all criminal matters including trial. Mr. Tsai is also an adjunct law professor at William Mitchell College of Law and a legal writing instructor at Metropolitan State University. Mr. Tsai is also a frequent guest speaker at area high schools and colleges, including the University of Minnesota. He volunteers his time to judge collegiate mock trial. Mr. Tsai is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law where he co-founded the William Mitchell Journal of Law and Practice. He received the CALI Award in Public Health Law and was the recipient of several scholarships, including the Robert E. Oliphant Marine Corps Scholarship. Mr. Tsai received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Mr. Tsai served as a United States Marine and was honorably discharged in 1999. Mr. Tsai spends his free time performing with fellow public defenders in the band “The Family Feedbag.” He plays bass and acoustic guitar; piano; drums and electric organ.