Chelsea J. Panzeca

Born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati, Chelsea became an intense competitor and fighter for the underdog. Her appetite for a challenge, coupled with her ambitious attitude, destined her for a career in criminal defense.

A small view into Chelsea’s work ethic will expose a former competitive gymnast. Beginning at a young age while attending elementary school, Chelsea trained for over 25 hours each week at a facility 45 minutes away from her home. This continued until she retired from gymnastics and began her undergraduate studies. Her work ethic continued throughout her education helping her attain top grades. After only one conversation with Chelsea, you will feel and understand the energy she possesses.

Chelsea attended the University of Cincinnati where she graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology. As an undergrad, she secured an internship with the Cincinnati Prosecutor’s Office and initially set her sights on a career as a prosecuting attorney. Her interests shifted, however, as she gained more exposure to the legal system and witnessed firsthand the right to a fair trial is not a given.

While attending law school, Chelsea was selected to take part in the Kentucky Innocence Project, an initiative developed by the Department of Public Advocacy to provide incarcerated men and women who have legitimate claims of innocence with a resource through which their claims may be investigated and presented to the courts.

Assigned to a case in which the accused was eight years into a 40-year sentence for a murder conviction, Chelsea reviewed case files and interviewed witnesses to uncover new evidence. She extended her involvement in the project an additional year to support the case until it went up for an appeal. This exposure to flaws in the legal system and the effects of poor representation further fueled Chelsea’s passion for criminal defense work.

As a second-year law student, she began working at a local law office and immediately was assigned to work on a complex sex case in which a mother faced allegations from her son. Chelsea had the opportunity to contribute significantly, researching, gathering evidence, prepping witnesses and organizing evidence at the defense table to appropriately refute claims. After two years of working on this case and three days at trial, the jury deliberated for only seven minutes, finding the client not guilty.

Chelsea is now using her skills and expertise to represent the clients of Bleile & Dawson. She earned her Juris Doctor from Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law where she served as vice president of the Legal Association for Women.