Compassion, Client-Centeredness and the Imperative for Self Care

Whether healthy or not, most public defenders carry their compassion for their clients with them all the time.  Client centered representation demands empathy and compassion for our clients and their families.  Sometimes, this emotional investment in clients can come at […]

You Got Problems? Systems Builders Is Here to Help

Who you gonna call?  Often public defender chiefs feel alone when faced with both internal and external problems. Some feel like they cannot complain to their own staff or to their board or commission, or receive independent advice or mentoring. […]

‘Defender’ Wins Best Documentary at Film Festival

This blog post was originally released as a press statement of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office on October 20, 1017. A film highlighting two cases in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office received the ‘Best Documentary’ award at the […]

Ode to JT

There was no spirit, and no force, that fought for criminal justice like John Thompson. JT died on October 3rd. He is no longer here in body, but his spirit endures in those of us whose lives he touched – and […]

Berthiaume v. Smith Summary

The National Association for Public Defense (“NAPD”), in conjunction with the ACLU of Florida and Lambda Legal, recently played an instrumental role as amici curiae in protecting and advancing the rights of the LGBT community. In Berthiaume v. Smith, the Eleventh Circuit […]

New Podcast Episode from Aider & Abettor

In the latest episode of Aider & Abettor (available on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, BuzzSprout), Avi and Sajid are joined by retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Ron Del Pozzo, someone who they both appeared in front of during their public defense […]

Court Watching in Nashville, TN (an ABA Report)

This report was co-authored by Thomas Harvey, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Arch City Defenders in St. Louis, MO; Stephen F. Hanlon, NAPD General Counsel and American Bar Association Vice Chair on the Criminal Justice Committee Section on Civil […]

NAPD Files Brief Amicus Brief in Support of the Cook County Public Defender’s Office

The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), in collaboration with DLA Piper, LLP, a global law firm with lawyers practicing in more than forty countries, filed a brief as amicus curiae in State of Illinois v. Cole (defendant) and Campanelli […]

Retiree Accused of Stealing $5 and Cologne Remains Jailed on $350K Bond

This blog post was re-printed from a press statement of the San Francisco Public Defender's Office released September 22, 2017. A San Francisco senior citizen is poised to strike a blow against the money bail system, with the state appeals […]

The Criminalization of Homelessness

Episode 8 of Lavender, Liberty & Lemonade addresses the criminalization of homelessness. Cities across the country use the criminal justice system to address the problem of homelessness by punishing folks for engaging in daily life preserving activities in public such […]