Jeff Adachi Is Missed

  For many years, I have written in a journal each Saturday morning.  Recently, I have taken to reading back over the last ten years’ worth of entries to see what was going on in my life at approximately the […]

Two Public Defense Creative Advocacy Grants Made by The NAPD Fund for Justice, Inc.

(February 8, 2021) The NAPD Fund for Justice has awarded Public Defense Creative Advocacy grants to the Department of Indigent Defense Services, and the Cook County, Illinois Public Defender Office to enhance the representation of public defense clients. The awards […]

Paulino Duran

With thanks to CPDA for the use of their information & material… It is with a heavy heart that we are writing to let you know that Paulino Duran, former Chief Public Defender of Sacramento County,  passed away last week […]

Reflecting Back

It is that time when the old year rolls over into the new.  I often am in a reflective mood during this time.  My annual tradition is to write in my journal on New Year’s morning, reflecting back and projecting […]

The NAPD Fund for Justice Ernie Lewis Public Defense Leadership Scholarship Fund

To honor the leadership Ernie Lewis has provided as the Executive Director of NAPD from NAPD’s beginning in October 2013 until his retirement December 31, 2020, the NAPD Steering Committee requested that The NAPD Fund for Justice create scholarship assistance […]

Self-Care Practices Among Those Employed in Public Defense Contexts: A Research Note

Researchers at the University of Kentucky School of Social Work's Self-Care Lab, in collaboration with the National Association for Public Defense, conducted a national study to examine self-care practices of those employed in public defense. The study focused on five […]

NAPD Fund for Justice Creative Advocacy Grant made in honor of Jeff Adachi and Norm Lefstein; Deadline for applications is November 15, 2020

The NAPD Fund for Justice, Inc. yearly provides one or more Creative Advocacy Grants. Grants are made in the spirit of the inductees in the Public Defense Hall of Fame, and are awarded to public defender organizations that seek to […]

States can and Should Reevaluate Sentencing for Inmates Serving Life Sentences

One in seven prisoners in the United States is serving life sentences and two-thirds of those people who are serving life sentences are people of color. A large contributor to the growing population of inmates serving life sentences is habitual […]

Six Tips On Effectively Representing Trans and Non-Binary Clients

Before I start to give you advice about representing trans and non-binary clients, let me introduce you to myself. My name is Connor Barusch (he/they). I am a visibly trans person. I am also a public defender coming up on the end of […]

NAPD Statement in Response to the Shooting of Jacob Blake

The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) is outraged by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, and reiterates its support for both the Black Lives Matter movement and comprehensive police and criminal justice reform. It is appalling to again be […]