A Plea for Change: Black History Month Edition

Dear NAPD Community:   It is my great honor to write you as we commemorate the work, achievements, and history of Black people during the month of February in honor of Black History Month. Make no mistake, the challenges and obstacles […]

Black Lives Matter: NAPD’s Commitment to Transformational Change

NAPD commits itself to reflect anti-racist principles, policies, and practices and lead through a racial and ethnic justice lens. We strive to be an explicitly anti-racist organization, as we build a bold vision for our organization and for the role […]

It’s Not That Complicated: Basic Truths about DEI

What seems to often be missing from the conversation about “DEI” (both as a professional field and as a set of business practices and standards) are actual DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) practitioners. Folks who actually do the work on […]

Join us for the July 2024 edition of the RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP!

Join us for the July 2024 edition of the RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP! We will be led by guest meetup speaker, Guy Lang. Guy present on “Building Relationships and Partnering with Communities to Combat Racial Injustice. ” This is a meetup […]

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.”

NAPD’s DEIJ Coordinator Attends Meeting on Preserving the Future of Juries and Jury Trial

NAPD’s DEIJ Coordinator, Brittany Gail Thomas (BGT), Esq., participated in a 2-day meeting, Preserving the Future of Juries and Jury Trial hosted by the National Center for State Courts and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Washington, DC […]

RACIAL JUSTICE MEETUP

We will be led by guest speaker, Tony White. Tony works as the Director of Outreach at the Fletcher Group and is a seasoned advocate for those with substance use disorders and addiction. Tony will lead our meetup in a […]

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.”

Statement on Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice

“The deaths of two black men and a black child in Ferguson, New York City and Cleveland – and the lack of accountability for the white officers who killed them – have stirred our national conscience. We must now turn […]

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, […]

The DEIJ Meetup’s Season Starts Off Addressing DEI Fatigue & Burnout

by Brittany Gail Thomas, Esq., NAPD DEIJ Coordinator and Charles M. Fox, Jr., M.A.P.P., Guest Speaker BGT’s Take: On January 24th, the DEIJ Meetup held its first meetup of 2024. In true DEIJ Meetup fashion, NAPD members poured in one […]

The RJ & DEIJ Corner: Meetups & Events Recaps (April to June 2024)

In this update, NAPD’s DEIJ Coordinator, Brittany Gail Thomas (BGT), Esq., recaps recent NAPD meetups and events related to racial justice and diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. APRIL 2024 Racial Justice Meetup:  Public Defense, Racial Justice, & SWANA Communities Meetup […]

Where is the Ethical Limit for Zealous Criminal Defense Advocacy? w/Martín Sabelli

Today, Hunter is once again joined by former NACDL President, Martin Sabelli. This time, Hunter and Martin are discussing a memo he put out while President about the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial. In that trial, Martin felt that the defense […]