Before his current employment, Mr. Ballew was appointed for just about every type of case for which an attorney can be appointed, in every type of court in the state, including the representation of parents in dependency and termination of parental rights cases from 1996 to 2007. Mr. Ballew has been involved in reform of the child welfare system on both the local and state level. Mr. Ballew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from the University of Montana.