All Resources
NAPD Response to Recent Federal Policy Changes
Recent Executive Orders—in particular those against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the actions against immigrants—are opposed to the principles upon which NAPD was founded. They are also a direct attack on the communities we all serve. We share your outrage […]
NAPD Statement on Executive Order on Student Loan Forgiveness
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order limiting student loan forgiveness. The National Association for Public Defense strongly opposes this order and urges its immediate withdrawal. Read the full statement here.
Testimony in Support of Maryland HB55 – Expungement of Records for Good Cause
Members of the committee, on behalf of the National Association for Public Defense, I urge you to issue a favorable report for HB55 for it represents a path towards ensuring fair and just legal system for all, particularly for those […]
Letter to New York Governor Hochul Regarding Discovery Laws
We write to you with a united voice and call on you to withdraw your Executive Proposal within the Public Protection and General Government legislation that will effectively repeal those landmark discovery laws, decimating fairness and reducing efficiency in the […]
Letter to the U.S Senate in Opposition to the Laken Riley Act
As organizations committed to due process and the right to counsel, we urge you to oppose the Laken Riley Act. This bill would subject undocumented persons to mandatory, prolonged detention based on mere arrest for theft-related offenses, including shoplifting. Such […]
Policy Statement on Workloads
In light of new research and developments in public defense, NAPD adopts this statement: Public defense workloads must be reasonable, ensuring that public defense counsel is able to represent each client according to prevailing national professional norms. Public defense leaders […]
Statement in Opposition to Louisiana SB8
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we write to voice our opposition to Senate Bill 8, a bill that would replace the multi-stakeholder Louisiana Public Defender Board with a state public defender selected by the Governor. If enacted, this legislation […]
Letter to Colorado Springs Gazette
The recent editorial “Public defenders aren’t social workers” presents a limited view of the role of public defenders and their impact on our legal system and society. Fiscal responsibility is crucial, but understanding the broader implications of public defense is […]
Joint Letter to Congress on Federal Defender Funding
Joint letter relating to proposed budget cuts of federal Defender Services Even after implementing these emergency measures, the program faces a devastating shortfall: the House mark is $80.6 million less than the bare minimum of what the program needs, and […]