Renewed War on Drugs, harsher charging policies, stepped-up criminalization of immigrants — in the current climate, joining the NACDL is more important than ever. Members of NACDL help to support the only national organization working at all levels of government to ensure that the voice of the defense bar is heard.
Take a stand for a fair, rational, and humane criminal legal system
Contact members of congress, sign petitions, and more
Help us continue our fight by donating to NFCJ
Help shape the future of the association
Join the dedicated and passionate team at NACDL
Increase brand exposure while building trust and credibility
NACDL is committed to enhancing the capacity of the criminal defense bar to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights.
NACDL harnesses the unique perspectives of NACDL members to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the criminal legal system.
NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal legal system.
NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results
Brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Families Against Mandatory Minimums as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner.
Argument: Judicial discretion to consider all information about the case and the offender is a time-honored principle of American law. Judicial discretion has historically been understood as a means of ensuring justice in individual cases. Congress has expressly affirmed judges' discretion to consider the fullest information possible. Abrogating judicial discretion in the sentencing context requires a clear statement of congressional intent. Section 924(c) does not abrogate a district court's discretion to consider the length of the section 924(c) mandatory minimum in imposing a sentence on the underlying offense. Sentence 924(c) does not clearly evince congressional intent to abrogate judicial discretion to consider the mandatory minimum sentence. Any ambiguity in section 924(c) must be resolved in favor of the defendant.
