NACDL - National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Using Client Information in Social Media Advocacy

Some criminal defense attorneys use social media platforms, such as Twitter, to provide insight and commentary about the legal system. While this can be an effective approach, attorneys should consider the ethics rules before posting on social media. Professor Nicole Smith Futrell discusses the key ethical considerations, and she offers guidance to defenders on how to responsibly draw from their specialized knowledge and the experiences of their clients in order to expose systemic injustice.

Jeff Adachi died suddenly on Feb. 22, 2019. His death came just weeks after he had been sworn in to serve his fifth term as San Francisco Public Defender. His office was recognized for the trailblazing work he led to challenge the tyranny of cash bail.

NACDL News January-February 2019

This article describes the history, function and evolution of Colorado’s statewide conflict counsel agency, the Colorado Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel.

Even for a misdemeanor, an indigent person who is facing any jail time is entitled to appointed counsel. Because deportation is considered to be “civil” rather than “criminal,” however, an indigent person facing deportation is not entitled to appointed counsel. “It does not make sense,” Tova Indritz says, but she offers “a spot of good news.”