The right to counsel, guaranteed by the 6^th Amendment, promises every person, regardless of their charges or resources, has a skilled, zealous advocate by their side when they stand accused of a crime. As Gideon and other cases recognized, defendants' procedural and substantive rights cannot be protected unless every person has an attorney with the resources, skills, and independence to advocate for them. NACDL works to help reform inadequate public defense systems through training and technical assistance, public education, advocacy, and litigation.

Public defense issues and developments in California

As a result of generous grant funding, NACDL is able to offer scholarship assistance to public defense attorneys to attend training programs.

NACDL has launched a 12-month celebration of the Gideon v. Wainwright decision.

Issues of racial disparity can be found in every aspect of our nation's criminal system, from stop to sentencing. Public defense attorneys have an important role to play in challenging bias and disparity within the courtroom, within their offices, and within themselves. NACDL is committed to empowering defenders to address the ways in which race impacts our court system, our clients, our communities, and the defenders who serve them. 

Coalition letter to the chairs of the Virginia State Crime Commission regarding the need to implement statewide counsel at first appearance and support public defense systems to ensure its effectiveness.

NACDL letter to the Virginia State Crime Commission regarding the need to implement statewide counsel at first appearance and support public defense systems to ensure its effectiveness.

Persons with disabilities represent one of the nation's largest minority populations. They are overrepresented in the criminal legal system as persons who are accused as well as persons who are victims of crime. In both the criminal legal system and in society generally, persons with disabilities are often denied meaningful access to the processes and protections afforded to the general population. These training materials and resources provide introduction to some of the issues and challenges that exist in our criminal legal system for persons with disabilities. 

This discussion examines the roles of race, power, and engagement in the attorney-client relationship.

This month David Patton reviews Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice by Jonathan Rapping.

The Champion of Public Defense Award recognizes an individual or group for exceptional efforts in making positive changes to a local, county, state, or federal public defense system. Although the outstanding direct, individual representation of every defendant is one of NACDL's foremost goals, this award is intended to highlight efforts toward systemic advances through legislation, litigation, or other strategies.

Recent state and federal legislation relating to public defense and the right to counsel.

20^th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 18-20, 2021 | Held Virtually

Learn about the different ways lawyers have organized within the legal community and beyond to better address racial inequity in their jurisdictions.

NACDL President Chris Adams’ comments to Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding the need for public defenders and appointed counsel for people facing incarceration in tribal courts, for consideration by the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable.

NACDL President Lisa Wayne's comments to the Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy regarding a proposed rule that would allow states to limit federal review of capital post-conviction cases.