Faculty Profile: Willie Santana

Willie Santana is an assistant federal defender. Prior to this appointment, he was a visting professor at Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law where he taught adjudicatory criminal procedure and legal writing. Santana is a former assistant public defender for the Third Judicial District of Tennessee and represented indigent clients in criminal matters. As a prosecutor, he was one of two lawyer trainers in Knoxville’s Enhanced Training and Services to End Abuse in Later Life Program.

In the community, he is co-founder and past Chairman of HOLA Lakeway, an organization dedicated to facilitating the integration of immigrant families into the fabric of the community. In 2016, he chaired Senator Rubio’s presidential campaign in Hamblen County. He is also on the board of the Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society. In 2021, he received the Tennessee Bar Association’s prestigious Claudia Jack Award for his efforts in challenging unconstitutional pretrial practices.