ASU Law alum expands access to justice in rural communities

Driven to serve her hometown, Celeste Robertson (JD ’19) is helping ensure rural communities receive the justice they deserve. 

For Celeste Robertson, returning home was never a question — it was the whole point.

“I was born and raised in rural Arizona, and I knew I wanted to return home after law school and build my career there,” said Robertson, who graduated in 2019 with her Juris Doctor from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. “I felt a strong responsibility to give back to the community that raised me, and a career in prosecution gave me the opportunity to do exactly that through public service.”

That sense of purpose is what led Robertson to start the Center for Rural American Justice, a nonprofit law firm working to address prosecutor shortages in rural communities across the Southwest.

For Robertson, public service is both a mindset and a responsibility.

“Public service means using your skills and profession to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and to strengthen the communities you serve,” she said. “To me, it means a deep sense of responsibility, integrity and commitment to doing work that is bigger than yourself.”

That definition now guides her work at the Center for Rural American Justice, which she founded in 2024 with colleagues Cecilia Diaz and fellow ASU Law Alum Garet Kartchner (JD 2019).

A purpose shaped at ASU Law

Robertson credits her time at ASU Law with sharpening both her skills and her sense of mission.

“My time at ASU Law helped shape that path by strengthening my advocacy skills, deepening my understanding of the law and reinforcing my commitment to serving others through a career with purpose,” she said.

She points in particular to the legal writing program as foundational. “The legal writing program at ASU was especially influential because it strengthened my ability to think critically, write clearly and persuasively, and build the kind of practical advocacy skills that became essential in my career as a prosecutor.”

That preparation proved critical when she returned to Apache County to begin her career.

After graduating from law school, Robertson joined the Apache County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, where she handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, including DUI, domestic violence, sex crimes and homicides. She later served as chief deputy county attorney from 2022 to 2024, overseeing criminal prosecutions and managing a team of attorneys and victim advocates. In 2022, she was recognized for her work and commitment to public service with the Rising Star Award from the State Bar of Arizona’s Public Lawyers Section.

Learning by doing in rural Arizona

In rural practice, Robertson said, responsibility comes quickly.

“Serving in a rural community taught me very quickly that rural practice gives young attorneys tremendous hands-on responsibility right away,” she said. “My first jury trial was as second chair on a murder case, and I was able to work on serious and complex matters much earlier than I likely would have in a larger jurisdiction.”

Her role extended far beyond criminal prosecution. “I never knew what each day would bring,” she said. “In addition to prosecuting criminal cases, I handled civil matters for the county and served as legal counsel to county departments and elected officials.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she advised the Public Health Department, while also handling election issues, employment law and general government matters.

The experience, she said, reinforced core values. “My experience in Apache County taught me how important adaptability, service and practical problem-solving are in a rural community, as well as the humility and willingness to keep learning throughout your legal career.”

Building a solution to a growing crisis

The idea for the nonprofit was inspired by what Robertson and her colleagues witnessed in Apache County.

“The organization grew out of our experience working in Apache County, where we saw firsthand the growing prosecutor shortage facing rural jurisdictions,” she said. “Many of these communities have struggled to recruit and retain prosecutors, and the problem has become a real crisis.”

The model is straightforward but impactful: attorneys from the center are appointed as special prosecutors in jurisdictions with vacancies, helping reduce backlogs and keep cases moving.

“Since launching, we have prosecuted hundreds of cases across Arizona and New Mexico, and we hope to continue expanding into other states,” Robertson said.

One example stands out. In New Mexico’s 6th Judicial District, the center stepped in to support an understaffed office.

“Like many rural jurisdictions, they were facing significant challenges in hiring and retaining prosecutors. Two of our attorneys were appointed to step in and help meet that need. Since being appointed in late 2025, we have helped bring resolution to over 100 cases, ensuring that those cases did not sit unresolved and that victims received the justice they deserved,” she said.

For Robertson, the organization's growth is deeply meaningful.

“What started as a simple conversation between Cecilia and me has, in just a couple of years, grown into an organization serving rural communities across Arizona and New Mexico,” she said. “The most meaningful success has been the opportunity to work directly with victims and criminal justice partners in those communities and to help deliver justice where it might not otherwise have been possible.”

Confronting “legal deserts”

According to the American Bar Association, approximately 1,300 U.S. counties qualify as “legal deserts,” with fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents and, in some cases, none at all. In Arizona, the disparity is especially stark: 92% of attorneys are concentrated in urban areas, leaving only 8% to serve the state’s expansive rural communities.

“One of the biggest challenges rural communities face in maintaining a functioning justice system is simply the shortage of attorneys. In some rural jurisdictions, there may be no attorneys who actually reside in the community at all. As a result, those jurisdictions often have to rely on attorneys from other parts of the state, which creates logistical and operational challenges,” Robertson said.

That reality creates ripple effects across the system, from delayed cases to strained resources.

“Legal deserts naturally result in case backlogs, victims and defendants waiting longer for justice and already overextended attorneys being asked to do more,” she said.

At the same time, Robertson has seen something unique in rural practice.

“[Legal deserts] create a reality where the small number of attorneys in a community must work together to keep the system functioning. In the rural jurisdictions I have worked with, that means maintaining collegiality with opposing counsel and judges is especially important to ensuring the justice system runs as smoothly as possible,” she said. “There is often a genuine sense of teamwork among attorneys in rural communities that is not always present in larger jurisdictions.”

Elevating rural public service

Looking ahead, Robertson has goals to expand the center’s reach nationwide and develop training programs to support long-term sustainability in rural offices.

But just as important, she wants to shift perceptions within the legal profession.

“I hope people better understand that public service legal work in rural communities is not a lesser career path,” she said. “Too often, the legal profession treats large law firm jobs in big cities as the most desirable outcome, while rural public service is overlooked.”

Her experience tells a different story.

“Working in rural America has been an incredibly fulfilling career,” she said. “Working in rural areas, especially in the criminal justice system, gives attorneys the opportunity to have a direct impact on the lives of others.”

For Robertson, the stakes are clear.

“Victims do not choose to be victimized in a rural area, and geography should never determine the quality of justice a person or community receives,” she said. “Rural attorney positions are vital, meaningful careers, and the communities they serve deserve excellent lawyers.”

Written by Kourtney Kelley

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