Judy Clarke Defender of America's most infamous

Judy Clarke is standing in as the lawyer for Jared Loughner. Photo / AP

The lawyer

To scholars of criminal law in the United States, there is nothing surprising about the Arizona Public Defender's office reaching out to Judy Clarke to stand in as the lawyer for Jared Loughner, the 22-year-old being held without bail and facing charges of murder and attempted assassination.

Sometimes known as the "patron saint of criminal defence attorneys", Clarke has more experience than anyone in representing defendants who are unpopular nationally because their alleged crimes are especially depraved or heinous.

Her client list reads like a list of America's most infamous rogues.

Based in San Diego and seen also as a fierce opponent of the death penalty, Clarke served as an adviser in court to 9/11 co-conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui (though technically he represented himself at his 2006 trial).

She served as defence counsel to Susan Smith, convicted in 1995 in the drowning deaths of her two children; Theodore Kaczynski, also known as the "Unabomber", whose devices over 20 years killed three people and injured 23 more; and Eric Rudolph, known as the "Olympic Park Bomber".

Clarke made her debut appearance with Loughner at his first formal court appearance in Phoenix on Tuesday. She was formally appointed to represent him by the court. While she waived the right to have a bail hearing, she did make a petition that no Arizona judge should preside when Loughner comes to trial because among those killed on Sunday was John Roll, a federal judge in the state.

The victims

Christina Green
Described as clever and gentle, Christina, a 9-year-old schoolgirl, was proud of her tragic birth date - September 11, 2001. Her mother Roxanna said she saw it as a sign of hope on what was otherwise a terrible day. Christina loved dancing, baseball and dreamed of becoming a vet. She had just been elected to student council, and witnesses said she was beaming as she waited to meet the Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords just moments before they were both shot and Christina fatally wounded. "She was a good speaker," her father John Green told the Arizona Daily Star. "I could have easily seen her as a politician."

Judge John M Roll
After a lifelong career dedicated to the law, Judge Roll, 63, was named Chief District Court Judge of Arizona in 2006. He had previously worked with Giffords on judicial issues, and reportedly stopped by the event to talk to her about court overcrowding when he was shot. "He'll be a great loss to his family, but he'll also be a great loss to the federal judiciary," Alex Kozinski, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals, told the New York Times, while friends remembered him as sincere, gentle and talented. He is survived by his wife, three sons and five grandchildren.

Dorwin Stoddard
An active member of Tucson's Christian community, Stoddard, 72, was known for his charity work - from fixing leaks in the church to helping the homeless. Stoddard had attended Giffords' event because his wife Mavy admired the politician. When he heard the gunshots, he threw himself on top of his wife and took a fatal bullet. She was wounded by shots to both legs. The Stoddards' pastor, Michael Nowak from Mountain Avenue Church of Christ, told Tucson news services that it was characteristically selfless behaviour. He said Stoddard would be missed but never be forgotten.

Gabriel Zimmerman
Known as Gabe among friends, this 30-year-old was dedicated to his work as an outreach officer in Giffords' Tucson office and had helped to organise the "Congress on Your Corner" event where the shooting took place. "He put his all into his work; he put his all into his life," his colleague C J Karamargin told the Los Angeles Times. Zimmerman was engaged and planned to marry next year.

Phyllis Schneck
Remembered as a generous friend, Phyllis Schneck, a 79-year-old widow, was an expert quilter and spent much of her time sewing handmade aprons to raise money for children's charities. Although she was not known for involvement in politics, Schneck had shared many of Giffords' views and had just wanted to shake the Congresswoman's hand. She leaves three children, seven grandchildren and a 2-year-old great-grandchild.

Dorothy Morris
A staunch Republican, Dorothy Morris, 76, attended the political meet-and-greet with her husband George because she was curious to see what Giffords had to say. The couple had lived in their Tucson home since the 1990s, were known for their love of travelling, and had two daughters together. When the gunman opened fire, Morris died at the scene. Her husband was wounded.

- INDEPENDENT