Guiding NACDL's Efforts in the Capital Punishment Area

The Committee proposes the following:

1. NACDL should allocate resources to establish an additional NACDL Death Penalty Counsel. This Counsel should, in collaboration with the National Consortium for Capital Defense Training, conduct the BJA-supported bring-your-own-case training and should also provide follow-up resource support to the defense teams after the trainings...............

NACDL recognizes that the goal of abolishing the death penalty in the United States is advanced by continuing to reduce the number of new death sentences imposed each year. This objective, in turn, can be promoted by concentrating defense training and litigation support on the cases where the risk of new death sentences is greatest. NACDL's efforts in the capital punishment area should be focused on helping to provide targeted training and ongoing case consultation in areas of the country where death sentencing rates are high and where private and  public organizations need assistance in meeting the need for high-quality targeted capital defense training and case consultation at the trial level. Accordingly, while recognizing that any and all proposals are subject to the availability of financial resources, the Committee proposes the following:

1. NACDL should allocate resources to establish an additional NACDL Death Penalty Counsel. This Counsel should, in collaboration with the National Consortium for Capital Defense Training, conduct the BJA-supported bring-your-own-case training and should also provide follow-up resource support to the defense teams after the trainings. Additionally, Death Penalty Counsel should support the efforts of NACDL's Death Penalty Committee, and provide advice and guidance to NACDL on all matters related to the capital punishment. Counsel's overarching role should be to maximize NACDL's effectiveness in supporting the movement to curtail and eventually end death sentencing in the United States.

2. NACDL must also recognize that apart from its own efforts, many entities and organizations provide invaluable support for death penalty defense and the movement to end capital punishment. To the extent possible, upon receipt of a request that comports with the Board adopted Donation Policy, NACDL should consider providing support for other deserving entities.

3. Upon receipt of a request that comports with the Board adopted Donation Policy, NACDL should continue to partner with and provide support to the Southern Center for Human Rights, specifically to support the highly successful Making the Case for Life trainings and the "Colorado Method" jury selection trainings. To the extent that these trainings are not self-sustaining, NACDL resources should be utilized to underwrite out-of pocket costs to fund these programs, as well to help underwrite SCHR staff costs. If, notwithstanding the availability of NACDL support, the SCHR does not wish to commit personnel to conduct these programs, NACDL should conduct them on its own.

4. NACDL resources should not be expended on direct trial representation.

5. NACDL should seek as much external support as possible to achieve all of the above objectives.

Denver, Colorado

Explore keywords to find information

RECENTLY ADDED & UPCOMING

  1. The Champion
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/StayInformed/Champion/ChampionCovers/March-April-2025.jpg?ext=.jpg

    March/April 2025

    What are the evidentiary implications of field sobriety tests in marijuana cases? Does the odor of marijuana give officers probable cause to search a vehicle?

  2. Amicus Brief
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Elements/global/amicus.png

    Jenner & Block LLP v. U.S. Department of Justice

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York Council of Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

  3. News Release
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Elements/global/newsrelease.png

    News Release ~ Law Enforcement Executive Order

    NACDL Warns Executive Order's Dangerous Overreach Undermines Community Safety and Trust in Police – Washington, DC (April 29, 2025) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) expressed deep concern regarding the Executive Order titled "Strengthening and Unleashing America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens," cautioning that several of its proposals represent a dangerous overreach that undermines these goals by jeopardizing individual rights and the legitimacy of law enforcement in the eyes of the community.

  4. Event
    /Nacdl/media/image_library/Learn/nacdlcleinstitute/2025_Post-Dobbs_Trial_Tactics_2025-02-26_v02_Event-Listing_2.jpg?ext=.jpg

    Trial Tactics for Pregnancy-Related Cases: Skills for Every Defender

    LOCATION: The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX
    DATE: May 16-17, 2025
    COST: FREE (registration is required)
    CLE Credit: Up to 14.5 credits 

  5. Webinar
    /assets/img/nacdl_og.png

    Collaborative Approaches to Appellate Defense: Recognizing Clients' Legal Expertise

    WHEN: Thursday, May 8, 3:00-4:30pm ET / 12:00-1:30pm PT
    CLE CREDIT: not available
    COST: Free

Featured Products