Amicus Briefs

NACDL files amicus briefs in federal and state courts across the nation in those cases that present issues of importance to criminal defendants, criminal defense lawyers, and/or the criminal legal system as a whole. NACDL is one of the most successful of the frequent amicus contributors to the nation’s state and federal courts, in part because NACDL draws upon the collected expertise of the nation’s criminal defense bar.

NACDL’s Amicus Program is managed by the Association’s Amicus Curiae Committee, which has been an important representative of NACDL—in the courts, in the media, and among other sectors of the legal community. In this section of the website, you will find digests and links to more than 20 years of NACDL amicus briefs.

This mission statement and the accompanying protocols linked below were adopted by NACDL's Board of Directors on July 26, 2015. If you have any questions concerning the procedure by which to submit a request for amicus support in your case, counsel for the party or parties may contact:

Monica Milton
NACDL Counsel for Public Defense and Special Projects
mmilton@nacdl.org

Request for NACDL to file an amicus brief
Request NACDL sign on to an existing amicus brief
NACDL Amicus Curiae Committee Protocols, Mission Statement, and Roster

Continue reading below

Supported by NFCJ

The NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice preserves and promotes the core values of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American criminal justice system.

Support Us Now

Search Amicus Briefs by Topic

Filter Results

Keywords
Active Filters
X Amicus Briefs
Active Content Filter
X Brief
Filter by Topic
Jurisdiction

Showing 1 - 15 of 304 results

    • Brief

    United States v. Rishi Shah and Shradha Agarwal

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Defendants-Appellants
    • Brief

    Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP v. Executive Office of the President

    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.
    • Brief

    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.
    • Brief

    State v. Tolbert

    Brief of the American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Ohio, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Defendant–Appellee
    • Brief

    Perkins Coie LLP v. U.S. DOJ

    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.
    • Brief

    Farella v. Anglin

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Legal Aid & Defender Association, National Association for Public Defense, and New York University School of Law Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellees and Affirmance.
    • Brief

    Snap v. Pina

    Joint Application of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the California Public Defender Association, the National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York Legal Aid Society, the Innocence Project, Inc., the New York County Defender Services, the Federal Defenders Office for the Eastern District Of California, the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, and the Salt Lake Legal Defender Association to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of Real Party in Interest Pina Pursuant to California Rule of Court, Rule 8.520 (F), and Brief in Support of Real Party in Interest Pina.
    • Brief

    Lesh v. United States

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioner
    • Brief

    United States v. Silva

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellee Bruce Silva
    • Brief

    Bonnie v. Dunbar

    Brief of Amici Curiae Due Process Institute and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner-Appellant and Supporting Reversal
    • Brief

    Barnes v. Felix

    Brief of the Due Process Institute and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner
    • Brief

    Thompson v. United States

    Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner
    • Brief

    Hewitt v. United States

    Brief of Amici Curiae American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, Cato Institute, Due Process Institute, FAMM, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioners.
    • Brief

    Tucker v. Idaho

    Brief of Amici Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Plaintiffs-Appellants
    • Brief

    Briscoe v. United States

    Brief for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner

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