The Role of Pretrial Services & Probation in Federal Courts (Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Judiciary Division and the Federal Judicial Law Clerk Committee)

Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez was sworn in as a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on December 11, 2023. Before her appointment to the Fifth Circuit, she served for 21 years as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Earlier in her career, she was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, where she worked in both the criminal and civil divisions, and an associate attorney in the general commercial litigation section of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell L.L.P. Throughout her career, Judge Ramirez has been recognized for her judicial service, leadership, mentorship, and commitment to the legal profession through numerous awards and leadership roles within legal and academic organizations.

• Education & Credentials

Judge Ramirez earned her Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas, where she was a Sarah T. Hughes Diversity Fellow. She also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. Her legal career includes service as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, followed by 21 years as a United States Magistrate Judge before her appointment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in 2023.

• Recognition & Leadership

Judge Ramirez has received numerous honors recognizing her judicial excellence, public service, mentorship, and contributions to the legal profession. Her awards include the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section Judge of the Year Award, the Dallas Women Lawyer’s Association Louise B. Raggio Award, the SMU Dedman School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award for Judicial Service, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association La Luz Achievement Award, the SMU Women in Law Distinguished Alumna Award, the Federal Executive Board Public Service Award, the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Outstanding Mentor Award, and the SMU Law School Board of Advocates Coach of the Year Award. She also served two terms on the Board of Trustees of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics, including as Chair in 2019.

• Professional Involvement

Judge Ramirez is actively involved in legal education and professional organizations. She serves on the SMU Dedman School of Law Executive Board and the SMU Law Review Association Advisory Board, and previously served as an SMU Community Fellow. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the Dallas Hispanic Law Foundation, a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, the Dallas Bar Foundation, and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, and a Master in both the William “Mac” Taylor Inn of Court and the Sarah T. Hughes Inn of Court.

• Experience

Judge Ramirez has extensive experience in both the federal judiciary and federal litigation. She currently serves as a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, after serving for 21 years as a United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. Earlier in her career, she was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, where she practiced in both the criminal and civil divisions, and before entering public service, she practiced as an associate attorney in the general commercial litigation section of Locke Purnell Rain Harrell L.L.P.

Riselda Ruiz, Chief | U.S. Probation & Pretrial Officer of the Southern

Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer Riselda R. Ruiz has dedicated nearly 30 years to the field of probation, pretrial services, and community corrections. She began her career as a probation officer with the Florida Department of Corrections before joining the U.S. Probation Office for the Southern District of Florida in 2001. Throughout her tenure, she has served in a variety of leadership and specialized roles, including guidelines specialist, supervisor, Assistant Deputy Chief, and, since November 2022, Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer for the Southern District of Florida. Her career reflects a longstanding commitment to public service, leadership, and the fair administration of justice.

• Education & Credentials

Chief Ruiz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida International University (FIU). While attending FIU, she joined Phi Mu Fraternity, a women’s organization, and remains an active member.

• Recognition & Leadership

Throughout her career, Chief Ruiz has held numerous leadership positions within the federal probation system. She served as a guidelines specialist, supervisor, and Assistant Deputy Chief before being selected as Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer for the Southern District of Florida in November 2022. She also participated in the first graduating class of the Southern District of Florida’s Leadership Development program, reflecting her ongoing commitment to leadership and professional growth.

• Professional Involvement

Chief Ruiz has been actively involved in professional committees and advisory groups throughout her career. She served on the Probation 11th Circuit Law Committee, represented her district on the United States Sentencing Commission’s Probation Officers Advisory Group (POAG), and was a member of the National Presentence Working Group from 2018 to 2022. She also remains an active member of Phi Mu Fraternity.

• Experience

Chief Ruiz began her career in 1996 as a probation officer with the Florida Department of Corrections before joining the U.S. Probation Office for the Southern District of Florida in 2001. She spent much of her federal career working in the presentence unit, where she served as a guidelines specialist, supervisor, and Assistant Deputy Chief. In November 2022, she was appointed Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer for the Southern District of Florida. Throughout her career, she has emphasized service to the Court and the community, integrity, respect, dignity, and fairness in the judicial process.

Shalita Morgan, U.S. Probation Officer | Eastern District of Louisiana

Shalita B. Morgan has served the federal judiciary since 2001, building a career dedicated to public service, community safety, and the administration of justice. She began her career with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where she advanced from Clerical Assistant to Case Manager before joining the U.S. Pretrial Services Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2008 as a U.S. Pretrial Services Officer. Following the consolidation of the U.S. Pretrial Services and U.S. Probation offices in 2013, she continued serving in both pretrial and post-conviction supervision. She currently works in the Presentence Investigation Unit, where she prepares objective presentence reports and sentencing recommendations for the Court while remaining committed to professionalism, integrity, public safety, and offender rehabilitation.

• Recognition & Leadership

Throughout her career, Officer Morgan has taken on positions of increasing responsibility within the federal judiciary. She was promoted from Clerical Assistant to Case Manager at the Federal Public Defender’s Office before serving as a U.S. Pretrial Services Officer and later assuming responsibilities in both pretrial and post-conviction supervision following the 2013 consolidation of the U.S. Pretrial Services and U.S. Probation offices. She currently serves in the Presentence Investigation Unit, supporting the Court through comprehensive investigations and sentencing recommendations.

• Professional Involvement

Officer Morgan’s professional experience has focused on multiple facets of the federal justice system. She has conducted pretrial investigations, supervised federal defendants and individuals under federal supervision, facilitated Reentry Court, coordinated offender transitions into Residential Reentry Centers (halfway houses), and currently prepares comprehensive presentence investigations and reports for the Court. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to supporting the federal judiciary and promoting successful offender reintegration.

• Experience

Officer Morgan has more than two decades of experience serving the federal judiciary. She began her career in 2001 with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where she served as a Clerical Assistant and later as a Case Manager. In 2008, she joined the U.S. Pretrial Services Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, conducting pretrial investigations and supervising federal defendants. Following the 2013 consolidation of the U.S. Pretrial Services and U.S. Probation offices, she expanded her responsibilities to include postconviction supervision, Reentry Court, and Residential Reentry Center coordination. She currently serves in the Presentence Investigation Unit, conducting investigations and preparing objective presentence reports and sentencing recommendations for the Court.

Gianluca Cocito-Monoc, Law Clerk | U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Gianluca Cocito-Monoc is a judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and an incoming associate at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. He previously served as a law clerk to Judge Susie Morgan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In addition to his judicial and legal practice experience, he teaches Federal Courts at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and remains actively involved with his alma mater through the Tulane Law Review Alumni Association Board.

• Education & Credentials

Gianluca is a summa cum laude graduate of Tulane University Law School. His professional credentials include serving as a judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, following an earlier clerkship with Judge Susie Morgan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

• Recognition & Leadership

Gianluca demonstrates leadership through his academic and professional service. He teaches Federal Courts at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law and serves on the Tulane Law Review Alumni Association Board, reflecting his continued engagement with legal education and the academic community.

• Professional Involvement

In addition to his work within the federal judiciary, Gianluca is actively involved in legal education as an instructor of Federal Courts at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law. He also contributes to the legal academic community through his service on the Tulane Law Review Alumni Association Board.

• Experience

Gianluca currently serves as a judicial law clerk on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and is an incoming associate at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP. Prior to his current clerkship, he served as a law clerk to Judge Susie Morgan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Alongside his judicial experience, he teaches Federal Courts at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

SESSION 1 – Basics of Pretrial Services | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

This opening segment introduces the pretrial services function in the federal courts: how officers assess risk in the release and detention process, how they frame recommendations to judicial officers, and how heavily judges rely on those recommendations in practice.

SESSION 2 – The Role of Probation Officers: Presentence Investigations and Supervision | 1:10pm – 1:20pm

A look at the probation officer’s post-conviction role: how presentence investigation reports come together, how supervision operates in practice, and how the judiciary draws on that information when making sentencing and case management decisions throughout a case.

SESSION 3 – Interactions with Judges and Law Clerks Throughout the Life of a Case | 1:20pm – 1:30pm

This segment traces how pretrial and probation officers interact with judges, law clerks, and litigants at every stage in the life of a case—from initial appearance through sentencing and supervision—and what those working relationships mean for practitioners.

SESSION 4 – Supervised Release Conditions and Revocation Proceedings | 1:30pm – 1:40pm

An examination of supervised release conditions and revocation proceedings: how conditions are set and monitored, what happens when violations arise, and the standards courts apply in reviewing and enforcing conditions when a term of supervision breaks down.

SESSION 5 – Ask Best Questions at 30(B)(6) Deposition for Useful Evidence for Trial | 1:40pm – 1:50pm

Practical guidance on questioning the corporate designee at a Rule 30(b)(6) deposition: how to frame, sequence, and follow up on your questions so the testimony you walk away with becomes genuinely useful evidence when the case reaches trial.

SESSION 6 – Resources and Q&A | 1:50pm – 2:00pm

The program closes with resources for practitioners and a live question-and-answer segment, giving attendees the chance to put questions about pretrial services, presentence investigations, supervision, and revocation proceedings directly to the panel of speakers and the moderator.