harrisondefenders logo Home Defenders Community Resources Glossary Employment Opportunity Legal Map Contact

Public Defender

Cheif Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Originally from Kentucky, Jordan Dishong moved to West Virginia in 2018.
She is a 2017 graduate of Radford University, where she got a Bachelor of Science
in Criminal Justice. She participated in the In Side Out Prison Exchange Program
while in undergrad, which fueled her passion to be a Public Defender.

Mrs. Dishong attended West Virginia College of Law, from where, she graduated in 2021.
While in law school, Ms. Dishong focused her studies on criminal law. She was a student
attorney for the West Virginia Innocence Project and the Federal Public Defender for the
Northern District of West Virginia for several years during her time in law school.
In addition, she served as Vice President of the Marlyn E. Lugar Trial Association.
Mrs. Dishong has handled various misdemeanors and felonies at the Harrison County
Public Defenders Office since October 2021.


Assistant Defenders

Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Mark Kenward Antos is from Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY.
He graduated from Touro Law College in 2007. Mr. Antos spent three summers studying over
seas in India, China, and Holland while in law school. He was admitted to the New York
State Bar in 2008 and has worked in private practice as well as with several law firms,
primarily handling civil matters, between 2008 – 2020. Mr. Antos’s federal court bar
admissions include The United States Supreme Court; The United States Court of appeals for
the Armed Forces; as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of the
State of New York, and the District of Puerto Rico.
Relocating permanently to West Virginia following the mandated court closures across
New York State in 2020, Mr. Antos was employed with the West Virginia Supreme Court of
Appeals as a judicial law clerk in the Twenty-Sixth Judicial Circuit, including Upshur
and Lewis counties, while applying for admission to the West Virginia State Bar.
Mr. Antos successfully obtained his license to practice law in the state of
West Virginia in October 2021.


Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Shawna White's skills include:
Working with individuals recovering from substance use disorder and related
issues to remove barriers to recovery and reentry into the community.

Extensive experience in legal matters often experienced by those in recovery, including
but not limited to child custody, abuse and neglect cases, divorce, expungement of
criminal records, sealing of CPS records, suspension of driver’s license, employment
issues, discrimination, Social Security Benefits, Domestic Violence, landlord tenant
issues, etc.
Experience in a wide range of legal matters including housing rights, landlord/tenant
issues, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, abuse and neglect, mental
hygiene, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence and criminal law.
Strong court appearance and trial background, including representation in administrative
proceedings.

2008 Juris Doctorate
West Virginia University College of Law, Morgantown, WV

2004 B.S. Degree in Biology; B.A. Degree in Political Science


Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Rebecca Kocsis is from Fairmont, West Virginia.
She is a 2022 graduate of Fairmont State, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal
Justice, and a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Political Science, National Security and Intelligence,

and Spanish Language and Literature. During her time at Fairmont State University, she
participated in the Inside Out Prison Exchange Program which deepened her understanding of
and passion for public interest careers.

Rebecca is a 2025 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law, graduating as a member
of The Order of the Barristers, a national honorary society that recognizes those who demonstrate
exceptional skills in trial advocacy, oral advocacy, and brief writing. She was a student attorney
for the West Virginia Innocence Project, where she worked towards the exoneration of
wrongfully convicted individuals. Furthermore, she was the president of the Marlyn E. Lugar Trial Association, which helped develop and shape her passion for criminal law and trial advocacy.


Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Christian is from Mayland.
Christian is a 2020 graduate of the University of Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in
Government and Politics. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a bartender
before pursuing his legal education at West Virginia University College of Law, graduating in 2025.
During law school, Christian was an active member of the Criminal Law Society, which heightened his
interest in public service and advocacy. Since the fall of 2025, he has served as an Assistant
Public Defender in Harrison County.


Public Defender for Harrison County Wv

Madison hails from Beckley, West Virginia.
Madison attended West Virginia University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 2022 with a
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with double minors in Criminology and Legal Studies.
While attending, she was a member of the Women In Law society and an executive member of the
Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority. Madison then attended West Virginia University College of Law, graduating in 2025.
While in law school, she achieved academic excellence in both criminal law, trial advocacy,
oral advocacy, and client counseling.
She was a participant of the annual Lugar Trial Competition, an active member of the
Public Interest Advocates as well as the Criminal Law Society. She was the president and
founder of the Law Student Wellness Counsel, providing services and aid to students struggling
with mental health crises. Madison was a legal extern with the Raleigh County Prosecuting
Attorney as well as the Preston County Prosecuting Attorney. Learning from the Prosecutors
helped shape her passion and desire to serve the public as a legal advocate for indigent clients.
Madison has served as an Assistant Public Defender in Harrison County since 2025.