Letter to President Biden on Judicial Nominations

“As you consider filling a judicial vacancy in the Western District of North Carolina, we encourage you to (1) continue to build racial and gender diversity on the federal bench; and (2) continue to nominate former public defenders.”

Letter to the Biden Administration on Access-to-Justice Initiatives

“On May 18, 2021, President Biden signed a Memorandum reestablishing the White House Interagency Roundtable (LAIR) and requiring the Attorney General to submit a plan within 120 days to expand access-to-justice initiatives at the Department of Justice (DOJ). The public […]

Press Release: Lori James-Townes to Lead NAPD

“The best thing about Lori is her track record of helping other people achieve their best. As a member-led association that is driven by the engagement of passionate and diverse professionals – diverse across systems, office cultures, generations and professions […]

Statement on Police Violence against BIPOC People

“If we are serious about addressing police violence, then the only answer is to radically reduce contactbetween the police and BIPOC people, create new systems for addressing socialissues, and invest in impacted communities.”

Statement on Violence against Asian Americans

“NAPD extends its condolences to the victims in Atlanta, their families, and the Asian community. We acknowledge the unique experiences of Asian Americans in our legal system and are committed to combating anti-Asian bias in our communities, in our work, […]

Letter to the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission

Letter relating to the termination of a chief public defender. “We write to express concerns and offer support concerning the recent termination of the Chief Public Defender in Chippewa County.”

Ten Principles for Creating Sustainability in Public Defense

Public defenders need to start from a strong base of overall wellness to best represent their clients under what are frequently challenging circumstances. Employee wellness is multi-layered, and best practices toward sustainability can be woven into organization operations, policies, procedures, […]

Recommendations for the Biden Administration Transition Team

NAPD outlines nine recommendations for reforming public defense, in the areas of Funding, Data, and Policy.

Policy on Active Supervision of the Representation of Clients

All public defense systems – full-time, assigned counsel, contract – must actively supervise performance to ensure clients are properly represented. Effective supervision provides the safety net for clients and systems. This policy sets a standard of supervision that expands on […]

Policy Statement on Proper Professional Space, Equipment, Confidential Communications with Clients, Supporting Services for Public Defense

“Meaningful representation of public defense clients requires proper professional space, adequate supporting equipment, ability to conduct confidential communications, and adequate services. These factors directly affect the number of clients an attorney can ethically and competently represent and the effectiveness of […]