Kristen Gibbons Feden, a shareholder with Anapol Weiss and a nationally-recognized attorney joined the Just Champions podcast for their debut episode, “The Trial Prosecutor.” The podcast focuses on the prosecution of sexual violence, stalking, domestic violence, and sex trafficking from the perspective of those who handled these cases.
During the interview with host Jennifer Long, Feden shares what inspired her to practice law and her role as a prosecutor, giving a voice to those who have experienced sexual violence. Notably, Feden secured a $10.5 million verdict for survivors of R. Kelly and is currently representing hundreds of men and women who survived childhood sexual assault while in the custody of several juvenile justice facilities.
How Kristen Gibbons Feden’s Career in Law Began
It could be argued that Feden’s journey into law started with a joke from her father: “My dad always said, ‘you need to go to law school’ because I was debating him way too much,” Feden told Jennifer. Though intended to be a playful comment, the concept of getting into law was intriguing for Feden.
It was while interning with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, specifically in the Family Violence Unit, that Feden developed a strong passion for giving a voice to the voiceless. “Seeing the impact these prosecutors had on the lives of young children and adults was so profound,” she shared with Jennifer. “It’s where I grew to love prosecutorial work.”
Her time as a judicial law clerk with the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas with Judge Page only reaffirmed her commitment to practicing criminal law. After Judge Page moved over to the criminal bench, her time as his judicial law clerk gave Feden first-hand experience dealing with serious criminal cases, not limited to homicide, sexual violence, and gender-based violence.
Building a Foundation in the Prosecutor’s Office
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office set the next stage of Feden’s career. “They start you in the pretrial unit,” explained Feden, “You get to argue motions, analyze cases, and make sure all the documents the defense needs are appropriately turned over.”
While later working in the juvenile department, Feden saw a lot of cases that dealt with gender-based violence in high school, as well as cases involving abuse within families and at residential facilities, an experience that would later give a voice to 800 men and women who were horrifically abused while in juvenile detention.
Per Feden, these experiences in the pretrial and juvenile departments were invaluable: “You’re dealing firsthand with victims, survivors, defendants, opposing counsel, and judges — all of which build the foundation to allow you to then deal with adult crimes.”
Specializing in Gender-Based Violence Cases
During her time in Montgomery County, Feden became known for her focus on gender-based violence, prosecuting some of the most complex and emotionally charged cases in the system. After honing her trial skills in the juvenile division, where nearly every case went to bench trial, she transitioned into the adult trial division, joining the Sex Crimes Team. “We had everything from child sexual and physical abuse,” she shared with the host. “Then, for the adult perpetrators, we had everything from domestic violence and adult sexual violence to exploitation and elder abuse. Her appointment to Chief of the Elder Abuse Unit provided an opportunity to expand her advocacy even more.
Her work emphasized trauma-informed prosecution, consistency of survivor support throughout proceedings, and building strong rapport from the earliest stages of investigation. Whether advocating for children, teens, adults, or the elderly, Feden approached every case with the same guiding principle: to uphold dignity, justice, and compassion for survivors who had been silenced for far too long. She emphasized that one of the most important aspects of prosecuting gender-based violence was building rapport.
Feden, along with those in the Sex Crimes Unit made it a point to keep the case regardless of which judge it went to within the county. This way, the survivor wouldn’t have to continually retell their trauma to strangers. In regards to establishing rapport and becoming more trauma-informed, Feden says these actions “really helped.”
Combating Rape Myths and Biases in the Courtroom
Building rapport and trust with survivors, according to Feden, was only one piece of the puzzle. “As a prosecutor focusing directly on sexual violence, one of the things we’ve always had to overcome are rape myths,” she explained. “Our survivors do not come in at a level playing field of credibility. They don’t have the opportunity to get on the stand and have a fact finder, whether it be a jury or a judge.”
As for the most common rape myths Feden had to overcome, many of them had to do with trying to dispel common questions and assumptions that placed unfair blame on the victim — why did the survivor not immediately go to the police? Why did they stay in communication with their attacker? What were they wearing at the time of the attack?
“As a prosecutor, I had to explain to the jury that just because that person didn’t go to the police right away doesn’t mean they were lying,” Feden explained, “It means they were afraid.”
Feden shouted out AEquitas for the integral role they played in not only making sure that legislation allowed experts to be called upon in these gender-based violence cases, but training law enforcement and prosecutors to ask questions and experts to give testimony.
Civil Litigation Became the Next Chapter
After five years as a prosecutor, Feden transitioned into civil litigation where she was able to use her experience and perform investigatory work to continue giving a voice to those who had been silenced. “Now, I do mostly crime victim work,” Feden explained. “I represent survivors of any type of crime in the civil realm and I try to obtain civil justice for them. ”
Feden’s fierce advocacy resulted in a $10.5 million verdict for the survivors of disgraced singer, R. Kelly and a $22 million verdict for the survivor of sexual abuse perpetrated by a renowned New York pediatrician. She is currently representing 800 men and women who survived childhood sexual assault while in the custody of the Illinois Youth Centers and Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
She, along with Anapol Weiss attorneys, Alexandra Walsh and Pat Huyett, are leading the fight against Roblox and Discord, representing the families of innocent children who were groomed, sexually exploited and sexually assaulted through the platforms.
For Feden, it’s not just about pursuing compensation for the victims who have been egregiously harmed. Rather, it’s about pursuing justice that results in genuine policy change, whether that’s changing how employers screen employees, conduct background checks, or how dangerous platforms — such as Roblox — monitor their digital landscape.
Message to Future Legal Advocates
As for any parting wisdom that could be shared with future law students, Feden told Jennifer that she encourages them to pursue prosecution, especially regarding crimes of stalking, domestic violence, sexual violence, and trafficking.
“Not only are these cases extremely rewarding, Feden says, “But you are on the front lines of justice. You’re protecting children who are sexually abused by their parents, mothers who are trying to mother their children, little boys who may be abused by their father, and men who are sometimes stigmatized if they come forward after making claims of abuse. You are at the front lines of justice, breaking down all stigmas and barriers.”
Reflecting on this message to future legal advocates, Feden says, “It’s a privilege to be a part of.”
Schedule a Consultation With Kristen Gibbons Feden
As a fierce advocate for survivors, Kristen Gibbons Feden has dedicated both her life and career to pursuing justice. If you were the victim of sexual assault, institutional abuse, terroristic threats, or any other type of injustice, Kristen Gibbons Feden is here to give you back your voice. Schedule a consultation with her at 215-608-9645.
*Kristen Gibbons Feden is a board member of AEquitas.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.
