Robert Thies is a Senior Investigator with the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Missouri in St. Louis. He has worked in criminal defense for nearly 30 years at both the state and federal levels, including capital litigation and complex federal investigations. Robert has developed training programs to help public defenders understand and challenge AI-generated evidence. His current work focuses on practical strategies for protecting due process, identifying bias, and improving efficiency in digital casework. Before joining the federal office, Robert spent almost two decades with the Missouri State Public Defender system, where he helped introduce digital evidence tools and OCR-based scanning systems that improved discovery management and case preparation. He regularly trains defense teams on investigative strategy, technology, and the evolving impact of artificial intelligence in criminal proceedings.