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
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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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How do we as defense attorneys and advocates best deal with the psychological issues our clients are facing? One effect of COVID-19 is tremendously heightened anxiety among clients, especially those who are incarcerated.
Special guest host Pat Cresta-Savage is joined by Dr. Lauren Brinkley-Rubinstein, UNC School of Medicine and Center for Health Equity Research, and co-founder of the COVID Prison Project, which tracks data and policy across the country to monitor COVID-19 in correctional facilities and offers analysis and resources to better understand how coronavirus is impacting justice-involved individuals.
Iris Eytan, Dru Nielsen, and special guest moderator MartÃn Sabelli discuss a recent jury trial in Colorado where they had to navigate the new litigation circumstances in this COVID-19 era and all of the challenges that poses for defense lawyers and the individuals facing charges and trials in courtrooms across the country.
Presented by NACDL President Nina Ginsberg, DiMuro Ginsberg, PC, Alexandria, VA; Stephen Ross Johnson, Ritchie, Dillard, Davies & Johnson, P.C., Knoxville, TN; Todd Pugh, Breen & Pugh, Chicago, IL; and MartÃn Sabelli, Law Offices of MartÃn A. Sabelli, San Francisco
NACDL to Focus on Service and Support for Members, Clients, and Community Throughout Virus Emergency
Juan Carlos Barragan had served 16 years of his sentence when a federal judge reduced his sentence to “time served.” His release is one of the success stories of NACDL’s Return to Freedom Project, which files compassionate release motions and clemency petitions on behalf of federal prisoners convicted of marijuana crimes.
NACDL: Jury Trials Not Safe Until COVID-19 Pandemic Under Control [Released June 2020]
This month John L. Kane reviews American Contagions: Epidemics and the Law from Smallpox to COVID-19 by John Fabian Witt.
NACDL, et al. filed a class action lawsuit seeking release of medically vulnerable individuals from Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. The lawsuit seeks to compel Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern to release all medically vulnerable people in custody at Santa Rita or in rare circumstances transfer them to home confinement.
NACDL, et al., filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate Seeking the Immediate and Significant Reduction of County Jail and Juvenile Facility Populations Across the State of California. As explained in the petition, the conditions in these facilities constitute violations of the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment as well as violations of individuals’ Due Process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment, in addition to violations of the California Constitution and other state and federal laws.
NACDL opposed an executive order in Texas to restrict mechanisms of release and suspend speedy trial protections.
NACDL seeks volunteers in historic pro bono effort to secure compassionate release for the most vulnerable federal prisoners.
Memorandum Opinion Granting Motion for Compassioante Release
Opinion and Order Granting Motion to Sentence Reduction
Motion for Compassionate Release (Dec. 21, 2020)
Gov Response in Opposition (Jan. 15, 2021)
Def's Reply (Jan. 29, 2021)
Order Granting Compassionate Release (Mar. 30, 2021)
