Renewed War on Drugs, harsher charging policies, stepped-up criminalization of immigrants — in the current climate, joining the NACDL is more important than ever. Members of NACDL help to support the only national organization working at all levels of government to ensure that the voice of the defense bar is heard.
Take a stand for a fair, rational, and humane criminal legal system
Contact members of congress, sign petitions, and more
Help us continue our fight by donating to NFCJ
Help shape the future of the association
Join the dedicated and passionate team at NACDL
Increase brand exposure while building trust and credibility
NACDL is committed to enhancing the capacity of the criminal defense bar to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights.
NACDL harnesses the unique perspectives of NACDL members to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the criminal legal system.
NACDL envisions a society where all individuals receive fair, rational, and humane treatment within the criminal legal system.
NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
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This training program will aid those working to defend persons accused of homicide in drug-related overdose deaths. Each section of the program focuses on a different aspect of these cases. CLE is not available for this program.
From police drones to body cameras, this webinar guided the criminal defense bar through the functionality, technological limitations, and legal challenges of litigating police technology in criminal cases.
This webinar walked through the recommendations and talk about how to negotiate stronger body camera policies in your jurisdiction, the technical aspects of body cameras, and strategies and tactics for defending clients in body camera jurisdictions.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is one of the major players in the forensic science landscape. In this informal session, John Paul Jones, the Forensic Science Standards Program Manager, and Melissa Taylor, Senior Forensic Science Research Manager, both from NIST’s Special Programs Office, will be on hand to offer their inside insight and expertise. For a practical perspective, they will be joined by two attorneys, Clinton Hughes and Dana Delger, who have contributed to NIST forensic efforts in various capacities.
Presented by Abe Hutt, criminal defense attorney, Denver, CO
Clients, Not Cases: Skills for Outstanding Representation Wilmington, DE | Grant-Funded Public Defense Training
Presented by Carrie Wood, Assistant Public Defender, Appellate Division, Hamilton County Public Defender (OH); and Nathan Adams, Systems Engineer, Forensic Bioinformatics (OH)
Trial Advocacy: Forensic Sciences Training Philadelphia, PA | Grant-Funded Public Defense Training
Presented by Eric Davis, Assistant Public Defender, Chief of Felony Trial Division, Harris County Public Defender (TX); and Karen Smolar, Trial Chief, Bronx Defenders
Advanced Skills in Sexual Assault Defense Indianapolis, IN | Grant-Funded Public Defense Training
Presented by Alice Fontier, Managing Director, Criminal Defense Practice, Bronx Defenders
This webinar focuses on the unique ethical challenges appellate attorneys encounter in their attorney-client relationships. Topics include the nature and scope of the client’s role and rights regarding the decision to appeal and the issues to be raised in the appeal, the attorney-client relationship when an attorney is pursuing an Anders brief, responsibilities when ending appellate representation, and overall communications with the client during the appellate process.
Taking the determined set of issues as its jumping off point, this webinar provides insight on how to draft a compelling brief, which includes source citation, more on issue drafting, as well as drafting the statement of the case and the argument and making the most of oral argument.
Appellate cases can be lost before they begin when attorneys fail to follow the unique and sometimes complex procedural rules and the impact of a case decision can rise and fall on the identification and framing of the issues. This webinar focuses on understanding the arc of an appeal from case assignment to conclusion to help attorneys avoid some of the major procedural pitfalls and provides practical advice on navigating the appellate process.
Age Matters: Strategies for Representing Juveniles in Adult Court: Three webcasts providing essential instruction for defense lawyers representing juveniles in adult court, supported by funding from the Foundation for Criminal Justice and the Ford Foundation.
Representing Juveniles at Sentencing in Adult Court in the Post-Roper, -Graham, and -Miller Era: The recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Graham, Miller and Jackson have greatly affected the sentencing of juveniles and all aspects of representing a juvenile client in adult court.