Access to The Champion archive is one of many exclusive member benefits. It’s normally restricted to just NACDL members. However, this content, and others like it, is available to everyone in order to educate the public on why criminal justice reform is a necessity.
The heart and soul of this organization are many members who volunteer their time for the good of the profession and country as well their fellow members. Most of what we accomplish results from the efforts of our members. As we reach the midpoint in our fiscal year, I would like to thank the NACDL members who generously have given of their time to address our goals.
Amicus briefs
Several months ago, we heard from a former U.S. Supreme Court law clerk that our amicus briefs are exceptionally well regarded in that Court. Through our Amicus Committee, NACDL addresses almost every criminal law related case that the High Court hears. By the time of our midyear meeting, NACDL amicus authors had filed briefs in ten cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and an equal number before federal and state courts of appeal. Our amicus authors include large-firm lawyers, solo practitioners and law professors. Our able co-chairs are always looking for new authors and issues to address. Check out the Amicus Committee page on our Web site.
Advice and assistance
Helping to answer our members' questions and assisting them in the practice of law are among our major goals. We offer our members ethical advice through our ethics hotline and through a network of professional contacts. NACDL's Strike Force stands ready to assist our members if they face disqualification motions, subpoenas or other challenges to their representation of clients. Every year our members donate hundreds of hours of time to counsel, assist and protect other members. Other NACDL members devote their efforts to our CLE programs, to the same end.
Indigent defense
This year, for the first time, NACDL will initiate litigation challenging under-funding of indigent defense services. Through a very active and dedicated Indigent Defense Committee (IDC), efforts are under way to obtain necessary funding through legislation, public education and litigation. Learn more about what the IDC Committee is doing and how you can play a role in NACDL's efforts to make Gideon's promise a reality. Visit our Web site at www.nacdl.org.
Other issues
Developing a private criminal defense practice is not easy. Through our Young Lawyers Committee, we hope to provide assistance to our new members. This is a new committee and I invite all of our new and younger members to read the Committee Forum postings on our Web site and join in. We look forward to hearing your ideas on how it can better serve you.
Through our committees and committee members, we try to address all issues of concern to our members. We have Juvenile Law and Military Law Committees. We have a grand jury reform effort under way through our Legislative Committee. If you have an interest, through NACDL you can team up with others and contribute to the profession and the country. And the information you need is only a mouse click away, at www.nacdl.org. Being an NACDL member is good, but NACDL thrives on active members and we invite you to become one.
Speak out
Some of our member projects, such as amicus briefs, require immediate attention. Others are not as time-sensitive, but important in their own way. If you have just a few hours to spare, you could, for example, speak to a local business or community group about criminal justice issues. We are preparing speakers' packages for our members. In no more time, you could also send off letters about pending legislation to your congressional delegation. When legislative issues come to the fore, we will contact you by e-mail and solicit your help. Every letter helps.
Whether you practice on your own, in a firm, or in a defender's office, whether you practice in a major city or a rural area, you have a common bond with more than 10,000 colleagues. You chose to defend the citizen accused of crime against the power of the state. You chose an area of law that has more frustrations and risks than many. By volunteering with NACDL, you can address issues that are common to all of us and our clients. Start by checking out NACDL's Web site and make a commitment to become a more active member.
