U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Denies Rehearing and En Banc Review as DOJ Continues Effort to Keep Its Federal Criminal Discovery Blue Book From Being Disclosed to the American Public; Panel Modifies Opinion and Remands to District Court -- Washington, DC (Dec. 20, 2016) – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit denied NACDL's petition both for a rehearing and en banc review following the July 19, 2016, decision of a three-judge panel...

Just in Time for the Holidays, President Obama Announces 153 Commutations; Total Grants Near 1,200 -- Washington, DC (Dec. 19, 2016) – Today, President Obama announced 153 grants of commutation. Of today's 153 grants, 82 were in cases supported by Clemency Project 2014.

NACDL Releases Pretrial Justice Manual for New Jersey Practitioners; Additional States Forthcoming -- Washington, DC (Dec. 13, 2016) – In partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender (NJ OPD), and with grant support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today releases The New Jersey Pretrial Justice Manual in an effort to support New Jersey attorneys as they work to end pretrial injustice in the state.

NACDL Past President John Wesley Hall to Receive Prestigious Al Horn Memorial Award from NORML -- Washington, DC (December 9, 2016) – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Past President John Wesley Hall will receive the Al Horn Memorial Award from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) National Legal Committee on December 10, 2016.

As Thanksgiving Approaches, President Obama Announces 79 New Clemency Grants; Total Grants Surpass 1,000 -- Washington, DC (Nov. 22, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 72 prisoners earlier this month, President Obama today commuted the sentences of 79 more prisoners. Of today's 79 grants, 54 were in cases supported by Clemency Project 2014.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Legislation to Delay Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, DC (Nov. 17, 2016) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) welcomes the bipartisan introduction today of the Review the Rule Act to delay for six months implementation of proposed changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

President Obama Today Announced Another 72 Clemency Grants -- Washington, DC (Nov. 4, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 200 prisoners in October, President Obama today commuted the sentences of 72 more prisoners.

President Obama Announces 98 Clemency Grants; Second Set of Grants This Month -- Washington, DC (Oct. 27, 2016) – After commuting the sentences of 102 prisoners on October 6, President Obama today brought October's total thus far to 200 by commuting the sentences of 98 more prisoners.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Receives Outstanding Alliance Award from U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform -- Washington, DC (Oct. 26, 2016) – Earlier today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) was presented with the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) Outstanding Alliance Award at its 17th Annual Legal Reform Summit in recognition of its "important contributions to the fight for criminal justice reform."

States Have Long Road Ahead to Ensure the Constitutional Right to Counsel, New NACDL Report Finds -- Washington, DC (Oct. 26,2016) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today released a report that surveys the standards set by each of the 50 states to provide counsel in criminal cases to those who cannot afford to pay for a lawyer.

The Sixth Amendment Center Releases Groundbreaking Study of Public Defense in Indiana; Report Commissioned by Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Oct. 24, 2016) – This morning, the Sixth Amendment Center released an important new study – The Right to Counsel in Indiana: Evaluation of Trial level Indigent Defense Services.

Cynthia W. Roseberry, Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014, to Receive Humanitarian Award -- Washington, DC (Oct. 21, 2016) – Tonight, Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014 Cynthia W. Roseberry will receive the Church of Scientology Humanitarian Award in Washington, DC at the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office this evening at 6 pm.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Seeks Responses to Key Questions Posed to the Presidential Candidates -- Washington, DC (Oct. 11, 2016) – Between August and early September, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) canvassed its members and others in the criminal defense bar and community for their input in connection with questions NACDL would be submitting to the following candidates for President – Hillary Clinton (D), Donald Trump (R), Jill Stein (G), and Gary Johnson (L).

NACDL and the Foundation for Criminal Justice Applaud Clemency Project 2014 Milestone; 2,000 Petitions Submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney -- Washington, DC (Oct. 7, 2016) – TToday, the working group known as Clemency Project 2014, which was formed by National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Federal Public and Community Defenders, achieves an historic milestone, submitting its 2,000th petition to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Clemency Project 2014 To Surpass 2,000 Submitted Clemency Petitions; President Obama Announces 102 Clemency Grants -- Washington, DC (Oct. 7, 2016) – Today, Clemency Project 2014 will surpass the milestone of 2,000 clemency petitions submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with many more nearing submission. And late yesterday, President Obama commuted the sentences of 102 prisoners, 55 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.

NACDL Sr. Privacy and National Security Counsel Jumana Musa To Receive Major Civil Rights Award -- Washington, DC (Sept. 29, 2016) – Jumana Musa, Senior Privacy and National Security Counsel at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), will receive the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Ralph Johns Civil Rights Award on Saturday, October 1, at the Civil Rights Luncheon during the ADC's 2016 National Convention being held in Washington, DC.

President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Issues Major Forensic Science Report; Calls for Stronger Scientific Standards -- Washington, DC (Sept. 20, 2016) – Today, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) issued a major new report calling for the strengthening of forensic science standards.

President Obama Announces A Second Set of More than 100 Clemency Grants This Month -- Washington, DC (Aug. 30, 2016) – In his second set of clemency grants this month, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 111 prisoners today, 72 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.

New York City Attorney Rick Jones Installed as President-Elect of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 16, 2016) -- New York City attorney Rick Jones was sworn in as President-Elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's 59th Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.

New York City Attorney Rick Jones Receives Prestigious 2016 Heeney Award from Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) – New York City attorney Rick Jones has been chosen as the 2016 recipient of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' (NACDL) Robert C.  Heeney Memorial Award.

Barry J. Pollack Sworn in as 2016-17 President of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) -- Barry J. Pollack of Washington, DC was sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) by United States District Judge Amit P. Mehta at the Association's Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.

2016-17 Officers and Newly Elected Members of the Board of Directors Installed at Annual Meeting -- Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2016) – NACDL installed newly elected officers and directors at its Annual Board and Membership Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 13.

South Carolina State Senator Gerald Malloy Receives Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award by Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Palm Beach, FL (Aug. 12, 2016) – Gerald Malloy, a private attorney and state senator from South Carolina, was honored today with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers' (NACDL) Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award at NACDL's 15th Annual State Criminal Justice Network conference in Palm Beach, FL.

Alexander Bunin Receives Champion of Public Defense Award from Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Palm Beach, FL (Aug. 11, 2016) -– Harris County Chief Public Defender Alexander Bunin was presented with the Champion of Public Defense Award by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at its 59th Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, on August 11.

President Obama Announces Single Largest Set of Clemency Grants Since Taking Office -- Washington, DC (Aug. 3, 2016) – In his fourth set of clemency grants since March 30, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 214 prisoners today, 118 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.

Barry J. Pollack to be Sworn in as 2016-17 President of Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 1, 2016) -- Barry J. Pollack of Washington, DC will be sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) at the Association's Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., on August 13.

Kent R. Hart, Executive Director and Past President of the Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Missing and Believed Dead -- Washington, DC (July 26, 2016) – Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (UACDL) Executive Director and Past President Kent R. Hart is reported to have slipped and fallen into a waterfall while hiking in Hallingdal, Norway late Sunday.

DOJ Persuades Panel at U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit to Keep Its Federal Criminal Discovery Blue Book From Being Disclosed to the American Public; NACDL to Seek Rehearing En Banc -- Washington, DC (July 25, 2016) – On July 19, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit – Circuit Judge Srinivasan and Senior Circuit Judges Sentelle and Edwards – issued its decision in National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers v. U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for United States Attorneys and U.S. Department of Justice.

Supreme Court Rejects Government’s Expansive Interpretation of “Official Act” Under Federal Bribery and Honest-Services Fraud Statutes; Vacates and Remands in Case of Former Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell -- Washington, DC (June 27, 2016) – In an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts, the U.S. Supreme Court today unanimously rejected the government’s expansive interpretation of what constitutes an impermissible "official act" under the federal bribery statute, the Hobbs Act, and the federal honest-services statute.

Symposium Report: The Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age -- Washington, DC (June 8, 2016) -- The Fourth Amendment has entered the digital age. New surveillance technologies and programs — from GPS tracking devices to automated license plate readers to bulk data collection — have upended traditional law enforcement practices and created new challenges for defense lawyers.

President Obama Announces Third Set of Clemency Grants in Just Over Two Months -- Washington, DC (June 3, 2016) – In his third set of clemency grants in just over two months, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 42 prisoners today, 25 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014. Of those 25 that came through the Project, 14 were serving life sentences.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Decries HIV Criminalization -- Washington, DC (May 26, 2016) – On May 21, 2016, at the spring meeting of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the board of directors unanimously adopted a resolution opposing all laws that base criminal liability and/or penalty enhancements on one's HIV status rather than on the intent to harm another individual.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar: The Continuing Collapse of the Case for Capital Punishment -- Washington, DC (May 24, 2016) – Yesterday, in its 7 to 1 judgment in Foster v. Chatman (14-8349), the U.S. Supreme Court found that prosecutors violated the Constitution in the 1987 capital case against Timothy T. Foster, an African-American man accused of killing a white woman, when they struck every prospective black juror from the pool.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Bipartisan Legislation to Block Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, DC (May 19, 2016) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) welcomes the introduction of the Stop Mass Hacking Act (S. 2952) by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), to prevent changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure from taking effect.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar and the Foundation for Criminal Justice Applaud Major Clemency Project 2014 Milestone: More than 1,000 Petitions Submitted to Date to the Office of the U.S. Pardon Attorney -- Washington, DC (May 16, 2016) – In recent days, the working group known as Clemency Project 2014, which was formed by National Association of Criminal Defense lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the American Bar Association (ABA), and the Federal Public and Community Defenders...

Clemency Project 2014 Surpasses 1,000 Submitted Clemency Petitions -- Washington, DC (May 16, 2016) – Last week, Clemency Project 2014 surpassed the milestone of 1,000 clemency petitions submitted to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, with many more nearing submission.

President Obama Announces Second Set of Clemency Grants in Under Six Weeks -- Washington, D.C. (May 5, 2016) – In his second set of clemency grants in under six weeks, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 58 prisoners today, 28 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.

Congress Must Block Proposed Rule Changes Designed to Enable Sweeping Government Hacking Power -- Washington, D.C. (April 29, 2016) -- The Supreme Court yesterday referred controversial proposed changes to Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to Congress, and without further Congressional action those changes will come into effect December 1st of this year. NACDL submitted comments in opposition to these far reaching changes, arguing that the significant impact on constitutional rights requires a much more transparent and robust process than federal rule-making.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes House Judiciary Committee's Unanimous Passage of Email Privacy Act -- Washington, D.C. (April 13, 2016) – Today the House Judiciary Committee passed out of committee the Email Privacy Act (H.R. 699) by a vote of 28-0.

New Report Investigates Courts in South Carolina that Convict and Jail Many Defendants without a Lawyer Present -- Washington, DC (April 4, 2016) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of South Carolina released a new and critically important report, Summary Injustice: A Look at Constitutional Deficiencies in South Carolina's Summary Courts.

U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Sixth Amendment Right to Defense Counsel of One's Choice -- Washington, DC (March 30, 2016) – In a widely-awaited decision concerning the Sixth Amendment right to counsel and the government's pretrial seizure of a defendant's assets, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in the case of Luis v. United States (14-419).

Clemency Project 2014 Applauds Commutation of 61 Federal Prison Sentences -- Washington, D.C. (March 30, 2016) – In his first clemency grants since December of 2015, President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of 61 prisoners today, 25 of whom were applicants whose petitions were supported by Clemency Project 2014.

NACDL Press to Publish The Feminine Sixth: Women for the Defense, by Leading Defense Attorney and Legal Scholar Andrea D. Lyon -- Washington, DC (Mar. 28, 2016) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is delighted to announce that its publishing unit, NACDL Press, will be publishing a groundbreaking work on women in criminal defense by leading criminal defense attorney, legal scholar, Dean and Professor of Law at Valparaiso University School of Law, and decades-long NACDL member Andrea D. Lyon.

IN MEMORIAM: Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Mourns the Passing of Tiffany May Joslyn -- Washington, DC (March 8, 2016) – Tiffany May Joslyn, who served as counsel for white collar crime policy at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) from 2008 through 2015, died in a tragic car accident on Saturday, March 5, together with her younger brother, Derrick T. Joslyn.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes Forensics Initiatives Announced by Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates -- Washington, DC (Feb. 24, 2016) – Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates delivered important remarks today during the 68th Annual Scientific Meeting Hosted by the American Academy of Forensic Science in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Applauds Administration's Efforts to Close Guantanamo, But Says the Framework Falls Short -- Washington, DC (Feb. 23, 2016) – Today, the Administration released what it says is a "Plan for Closing the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility." While there are serious deficiencies in that plan, the administration is to be commended for continuing its effort to at long last shutter the detention facility.

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Presents Radley Balko with its Champion of Justice Journalism Award -- Washington, DC (Feb. 22, 2016) – On Friday, February 19, 2016, at its midwinter seminar and meeting in Austin, Texas, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) presented Washington Post journalist, investigative reporter, and blogger Radley Balko with its Champion of Justice Journalism Award.

Flawed Microscopic Hair Comparison Analysis Testimony Leads to New Trial for George D. Perrot -- Washington, DC (Jan. 27, 2016) -- George D. Perrot was granted a new trial yesterday in Massachusetts based on newly-discovered evidence that the FBI's microscopic hair comparison testimony contained scientifically invalid statements.

Supreme Court Ban on Mandatory Juvenile Life Without Parole Strengthened, Made Retroactive -- Washington, DC (Jan. 25, 2016) -- In a case revisiting its landmark 2012 juvenile justice decision in Miller v. Alabama, today the United States Supreme Court ruled in Montgomery v. Louisiana that its holding in Miller prohibiting mandatory life without parole for juveniles is a substantive rule of Constitutional law and therefore retroactive in cases of state collateral review.