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
Contact members of congress, sign petitions, and more
Help us continue our fight by donating to NFCJ
Help shape the future of the association
Join the dedicated and passionate team at NACDL
Increase brand exposure while building trust and credibility
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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Lawton P. Cummings, Can an Ethical Person Be an Ethical Prosecutor? A Social Cognitive Approach to Systemic Reform, 31 Cardozo L. Rev. 2139. This is a work from the Cardozo Law Review Symposium New Perspectives on Brady and Other Disclosure Obligations: What Really Works? (2009).
This page contains materials and information related to professional conduct and ethical issues, including ineffective assistance of counsel and withdrawing or substituting counsel. Whether you need to know your duties to a client or you are raising an IAC claim in post-conviction, you have come to the right place.
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.
Technology, including mobile devices and cloud computing, makes some law office tasks easier, but easier is not synonymous with ethical. Internal procedures and individually managed protections are important for safeguarding client confidentiality. However, attorneys must always consider the Rules of Professional Conduct when implementing systems and procedures to manage client information.
President Lisa Wayne's written statement to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee regarding advancing the science and use of forensics in criminal cases and investigations.
NACDL President Gerald Goldstein's written statement to the Judicial Conference Committee on Long Range Planning regarding the future of the federal courts as laid out in the proposed long-range plan.
President Gerald Goldstein's written statement to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and House Government Reform and Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice regarding government and law enforcement conduct in the 1993 confrontation between Branch Davidians and law enforcement in Waco, TX, and proposed changes in Exclusionary Rule Reform Act of 1995 (H.R. 666) and Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Improvement Act of 1995 (S. 3).
A template for a court order for substitution of counsel.
A template of a court motion to withdraw legal counsel (representation concluded).
A template for a court motion to substitute counsel.
Order granting ineffective assistance of counsel claim for securities fraud.
US District Court Southern District of New York: Walsh v. USA; Memorandum and Order
