As of October 17, we have raised over $130,000. More importantly, we have disbursed almost $107,000 to 81 needy defense lawyers in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas – and we have many applications in the queue from lawyers throughout the Gulf Coast, who were devastated by both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Meanwhile, we are currently conducting a raffle of a limited-edition, signed serigraph (26" x 30") by the renowned artist, Trevor Goring. The deadline to purchase raffle tickets is Noon, November 3. Click here for more information.

If you have not had a chance to contribute to the Fund, please click here to make your tax-deductible donation today. If every NACDL members made a minimum donation of $100, we would raise more than $1.2 million. Please donate today. For more information about the Fund and to find out about others ways you can help, click here.

Included in the $130,000 total raised to-date, the Foundation for Criminal Justice (NACDL’s charitable supporting organization) established a challenge grant of up to $50,000 to match individual member contributions dollar-for-dollar. (The Foundation is administering the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund). The following groups also donated to the Fund: $5,000 was donated by the NACDL; $4,500 was raised at a September fundraising event by NACDL members in Seattle; the Texas Lawyers Educational Institute of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association has pledged $5,000; the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has pledged an additional $5,000; $2,500 was contributed by the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; $1,000 each was received from the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Tarrant County (TX) Criminal Defense Lawyer Association, and the Miami Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. We hope all our Affiliates will contribute in whatever way they can.

Immediately after the hurricane, we established the Katrina Disaster Bulletin Board. This is the place where members can offer assistance, where those in need can learn about the assistance being offered, and where we can match-up those in need with those who are able to assist. The Bulletin Board appears on our Web site at www.nacdl.org/relief.

We hope members will continue to post offers of assistance on the new Bulletin Board. These have already included (1) providing housing and shelter for any members and their families in need; (2) assisting affected members with temporary office space; (3) providing short-term employment for affected lawyers; (4) providing short-term case oversight; and (5) donating office equipment and supplies, telephones and cellphones, calling cards, etc. once conditions improve and these supplies can be delivered to them.

Further, NACDL hired Julie Kilborn, a criminal defense lawyer in Baton Rouge, to serve as our Hurricane Disaster Relief Liaison. Julie receives and reviews the applications for grant aid from affected lawyers who are applying for assistance from the NACDL Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. She also coordinates efforts on-the-ground to assist lawyers to rebuild their practices and provides valuable resources and information to them.

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, we also appointed Alison Sterling, of the NACDL staff, as our Katrina Disaster Relief Coordinator. She manages the Bulletin Board and fields phone calls and e-mail messages from members, and also serves as a clearinghouse for offers of help and requests for assistance. Alison’s phone number is 202-872-8600 x248 and her e-mail is alison@nacdl.org.

NACDL’s Katrina Disaster Relief Web site also provides links to Web sites of affected local organizations and many groups – legal and otherwise – that are mobilized to assist in the relief efforts. Check our Web site periodically as we update this information in the coming weeks and months.

Barbara Bergman – NACDL President

Ralph Grunewald – NACDL Executive Director