A Recent Historic Victory

I’m writing to share news of a recent, historic victory in the fight for racial justice in the context of criminal legal systems—a victory in which NAPD’s Amicus Committee played a role.  I also write to celebrate the outstanding work […]

Meet Mary Pollard, the new Director of the Office of Indigent Defense Services

(This piece was originally published as John Rubin’s post to the NC Criminal Law blog.) Yesterday, Mary Pollard began work as just the third Executive Director of the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS), which began its work […]

Writing This Farewell…

  Dear Public Defender Family,   I have been writing this farewell in my head for a long time. For the past 35 years and 7 months I have woken up every working day and walked into a courtroom and […]

The Federal Judiciary Needs More Former Public Defenders

This summer, the Senate confirmed Cory Wilson for a seat on the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, approving President Trump’s 200th appointment to the federal bench. The composition of President Trump’s record-setting number of judicial appointments has […]

“But What About the White Poor?” Why Black Lives Matter is for you too.

State sanctioned violence against Black people is as imbedded in American culture as apple pie. Another Black man dying in police custody flashes across the nightly news. Then everyone goes back to normal. But maybe not this time. Something might […]

Max Mason Posthumously Pardoned

The following letter was submitted by the Public Defender's Office. A full pardon for Max Mason was granted on June 12, 2020. May 20, 2020   Minnesota Board of Pardons Department of Corrections Central Office 1450 Energy Park Drive #200 […]

Let’s Talk About Your Experience as a Public Defender

“Let's talk about your experience as a public defender,” the first one said. “You represented someone who raped a child.” “It's really a question of impartiality,” another one tag-teamed. “How could victims ever trust that you would be fair when […]

Podcast Discussing Advantages and Disadvantages to Virtual Court

This podcast was made possible by the Criminal Justice Section (CJS) of the American Bar Association, and is shared with permission. Geoff Burkhart, Executive Director of the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, walks us through the current state of virtual courts. […]

IDRA Releases More Notable Recent Publications

The Indigent Defense Research Association's Notable Recent Publications (fr April) can now be found at https://www.indigentdefenseresearch.org/2020/05/notable-recent-publications-may-2020.html. Links to all publications are also below.   Derwyn Bunton, "Rising from Katrina’s Ashes but Still in Crisis: Public Defense in New Orleans." 32(1), […]

An Update from Just City

Just City continues to lead the way in expungement reform in Tennessee. In July of 2019, the State's portion of the expungement fee was completely eliminated thanks to legislation we introduced; it was endorsed and championed by Governor Bill Lee […]