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Public Defense

March 18th marks Public Defense Day-- a powerful reminder of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright. The day is an opportunity to honor the important role public defense plays in fulfilling our nation’s promise that justice is not reserved for the powerful or wealthy but guaranteed to all.

Celebrate Public Defense!

Public defenders, court appointed counsel, and the professionals who stand beside carry this constitutional promise forward every day. Their dedication strengths public safety, promotes public trust, and demands that outcomes are based on facts, evidence, and the law, rather than circumstance, conjecture, or popularity. 

Standing beside those who face the full weight of the government, their work reflects our country's highest ideals -- that justice be administered with integrity, compassion, and a respect for human dignity. By advocating zealously to protect the rights of the one, public defense providers help ensure the rights of all. Their commitment brings legitimacy to our courts and to the principle that every person deserves a meaningful chance to be heard. 

Public Defense Day is a call to acknowledge and celebrate the essential work of those who keep Gideon's promise alive. We honor their resilence, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment to equal justice under the law.


Featured Resource

In honor of Public Defense Day, NACDL is proud to present A Path Forward: Transforming the Criminal Legal System Through Public Defense. This FREE webinar features a conversation with former public defender and author Emily Galvin Almanza about the pivotal role public defenders play in advancing justice and the proven, real world practices that can help transform our criminal legal system. This program is open to all who have an interest in improving how our criminal legal system ensures justice.

Key Details
  • Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
  • Time: 4:00-5:00pm ET/1:00-2:00pm PT
  • Cost: FREE but registration is required
  • CLE Credit: No CLE credit is being offered for this program

Register to attend


Systemic Reforms Public Defese Litigation Scholarships Champion of Public Defense Award


Federal Public Defense

Often held out as the "gold standard" of public defense, the nation's federal public system has many hallmarks of excellence including top caliber public defenders, a robust and experienced CJA Panel, and generally managable workloads. Their zealous, effective advocacy helps protect against government overreach and abuses, promotes fair and equitable outcomes, and provides faith in our federal courts. However, these successes mask many of the foundational challenges public defenders and CJA Panel members face.

For more than a decade, NACDL has worked to shine a spotlight on these systemic flaws in an effort to ensure a robust, resourced, and independent federal public defense delivery system. 

Federal Indigent Defense 2015: The Independence ImperativeIn 2015, following 18 months of investigation, research, and study, NACDL published its seminal report on federal public defense. Federal Indigent Defense 2015: The Independence Imperative details the depth and breath of judicial entanglement with the defense function, from controlling budget requests and selecting the leaders of defender offices to deciding how much money individual court-appointed attorneys will be paid, the report details how the judiciary exerts outsized power over the nation's public defense system and recommends reforms to better ensure a healthy, robust, and independent federal public defense system. 

In the winter of 2023, NACDL, alongside 30 national and 80 state and territorial organizations, sounded the alarm regarding projected cuts to federal defense funding and calling upon Congress to act to protect this cornerstone of the American criminal legal system.

In the summer of 2025, when the federal government ran out of funds to pay CJA Panel members for their work, NACDL collected the stories of the real world impact payment suspensions had on countless solo practitioners and small business owners. The resulting report was shared with media outlets and congressional leaders alike, helping humanize the effects of the government's perpetual underfunding of federal defense. 

Continue reading below

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Most recently, NACDL, led a coalition of 17 national organizations and 18 state affilate organizations, calling on Congress to ensure full funding for federal public defense in FY26. 

Read the CJA Panel Report  Learn more about NACDL's Federal Public Defense Work.


Gideon v. Wainwright and the Right to Counsel

Few names in public defense are as iconic as that of Clarence Earl Gideon. In 1961, with an 8th grade education and a history of being in and out of jail, Gideon stood trial for burglary of a Florida pool hall. When the court called the case and asked if he was ready for trial Gideon replied "I am not ready, your Honor." When the judge asked why, he explained "I have no counsel."  

Click here to learn more about this landmark case, the lawyers who argued it, and the generations of lawyers carrying on this legacy today. 


Strong Women, Bold Defense: A Journey Through the Legacy and Evolution of Women in Public Defense

In this webinar, we delve into the role of women in public defense today, examining the obstacles they still face and envisioning the path ahead. This webinar promises a comprehensive exploration of the subject, shedding light on the vital contributions of women throughout history and sparking discussions about the challenges and progress in the field.

Watch Now


NACDL Store

Show off your pride in your defense work with these stylish threads. While you check out the store, be sure to browse the vast selection of CLE programming and resource materials. 

  • NACDL Gideon (Represented.) T-Shirt (Gray)

Browse The NACDL Store


Litigation

Everyone has the right to have a skilled and zealous advocate when they face a criminal accusation. However, in many states and localities people are left waiting months or more to have a lawyer assigned to their case. Through our amicus work and direct litigation, NACDL works to ensure the right to counsel is protected, advocating for the prompt appointment of counsel.

NACDL, in cooperation with WACDL, the NYU Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law, and Winston Strawn has filed a lawsuit in Wisconsin to address the state’s inability to timely provide access to counsel.

Lawsuit Info         More on Systemic LItigation


Public Defense Scholarships

Understanding the import of ensuring public defense lawyers have access to high quality training, through generous grant funding and community support, NACDL is able to offer scholarships to help defray costs. Check out our Public Defense scholarship information page and FAQs to learn more about the program and to apply for funding

Want to help support training opportunities for public defense lawyers? Make a donation to NACDL’s Foundation for Criminal Justice.
Donate Now


Champion of Public Defense Award

NACDL honors individuals and organizations for exceptional efforts in making positive changes to local, county, state, or federal public defense systems with its Champion of Public Defense Award. Nominations for the 2026 Champion of Public Defense are now open. 

Prior Awardees  Nomination Form   


Questions about NACDL's work in Public Defense, contact Director of Public Defense, Bonnie Hoffman
BHoffman@nacdl.org
@GideonGuardian


Learn more about state level reforms and track bills in your state:

Resources   State BIll Map


 

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