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Affiliate News
August 2006, Page 10
Affiliate News
By Gerald Lippert
An Army of One: Come Hell or High Water
The Marine Corps has a long-standing motto of leaving no one behind. Similarly, NACDL has always held that we have strength in numbers, and our members never stand alone. This philosophy rings true for our individual members and extends to our affiliated organizations as well.
NACDL and its Affiliates exist partly because of the necessity for, and tremendous value in, a support system. As a community of defense lawyers — all of whom face similar challenges and mutual adversity — our members rely on each other for insight, motivation, encouragement, and assistance in sustaining the endless fight for our core principle of protecting civil rights and liberties that are fundamental to our democracy.
In 2001, during times of great fear and a rush to identify and prosecute suspected terrorists, our criminal justice system was tested. While not a popular position in society, NACDL, its Affiliates, and our members from around the country were there to stand up for those in need of representation, ensuring due process of law and the civil rights of those accused.
In 2005, the justice system in southern states took a battering hit after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Once again, NACDL, its Affiliates, and our members were there. NACDL quickly established a Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund, and its Affiliates and members banded together, generously contributing money, office supplies, their homes, and providing jobs and assistance in order to help their affected colleagues rebuild and continue their zealous advocacy. At its 2006 Spring Luncheon in Philadelphia, NACDL’s Affiliate in Louisiana, the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, presented a plaque to NACDL that reads: “Come Hell or High Water, NACDL Was There!”
In July 2005, NACDL member Elliott Weinstein’s son Zack sustained a paralyzing spinal cord injury, and a trust was established in his name to aide in his recovery and care. A nationwide plea for contributions was sent out by NACDL and the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and yes, once again friends and colleagues came together. At its Summer Meeting in Framingham last month, MACDL presented Zack Weinstein with an initial contribution to his trust of over $13,000. Upon receiving the check, Zack noted that he understood the generosity was a sign of the respect everyone has for his father. He then asked his father if he knew people had been so generous and the contribution was going to be that much. Elliott replied “I had no idea, but I should have known.”
On any given day, our members call on our Strike Force Committee members to assist them when they are threatened for providing legal representation to a client. These local and national Strike Forces are another example in a long list of ways that we support each other in times of need.
Time and time again, NACDL, its Affiliates, and our members have been there for one another. Whether defending our colleagues, clients, or the integrity of our justice system, we always band together, offering unwavering support and assistance. Our Affiliate network is a critical component of this support system, and its effectiveness has been endlessly demonstrated.
As we move forward, I hope NACDL and its Affiliates will continue working together, steadily improving our relationships, and nurturing the support system that is so needed.
Just as your local members rely on you, I remind you that you can rely on NACDL. Come hell or high water, NACDL will be there.
Meet Your New Council of Affiliate Reps
Thanks to all the Affiliate representatives who participated in this year’s Affiliate election to fill two seats on the NACDL Board of Directors and the Council of Affiliates. The results of the 2006-2007 election concluded that Dwight Thomas of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Jennifer Lynn Thompson of the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers will fill the vacancies. Thomas and Thompson will serve as affiliate representatives on NACDL’s Board of Directors for a three-year term. We welcome you both to the NACDL leadership.
More election information and an explanation of the Council of Affiliates’ role can be found by visiting www.nacdl.org/affiliates.
Affiliate Updates Needed for the 2006-2007 Member Handbook
NACDL would like your listing to be accurate in its upcoming Member Handbook. Please verify your organization’s leadership contact information now and submit updates before the August 25th deadline. Visit us at www.nacdl.org/affiliates to check the accuracy of your listing and submit all updates and changes to Education Assistant Tamara Kalacevic at 202-872-8600 x230 or e-mail tamara@nacdl.org.
NMCDLA Honors Jeff Buckels
The New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (NMCDLA) recently honored New Mexico Public Defender’s Capital Crimes Director Jeff Buckels with its 2006 Charles Driscoll Memorial Award. The award is given annually to honor a lawyer with a demonstrated commitment to protection of life, liberty, and constitutional rights. He has been the Director for seven years, and during that time, no clients of the Public Defender were sentenced to death. Additionally, Buckels also won significant appeals leading to vacated death sentences. For more information, please contact NMCDLA Executive Director Cathy Ansheles at 505-992-0050 or e-mail nmcdladir@aol.com.
NCATL Honors Kenneth Rose
The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (NCATL) recently honored Kenneth Rose with its Thurgood Marshall Award for extraordinary and selfless service to the people of North Carolina. For the past 10 years, Rose has been the Director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Inc., a non-profit law firm that provides legal representation to indigent defendants accused and/or convicted of capital crimes in North Carolina. The Center has grown substantially under his direction, and its attorneys represent nearly a quarter of North Carolina’s death row inmates. Because of his efforts, many North Carolinians have been moved to support moratorium legislation. For more information, please contact NCATL Executive Director Richard Taylor at 919-832-1413 or e-mail dick@ncatl.org. |
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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
1660 L St., NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 872-8600 • Fax (202) 872-8690 •
assist@nacdl.org
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