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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Minutes for meetings of the NACDL Membership are available online starting with the 2009 Annual Membership Meeting.
These are the bylaws of the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice.
NACDL's Executive Committee comprises the association's seven officers (President, President Elect, First and Second Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, and Immediate Past President); three Board Representatives; and an appointed Parliamentarian.
Charles Bellows
The mission of the Foundation for Criminal Justice is to preserve and promote the core values of America’s justice system guaranteed by the Constitution – among them due process, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, fair sentencing and effective assistance of counsel – by educating the public and the legal profession to the role of these rights and values in a free society. The Foundation supports the work of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers toward these ends.
NACDL's elected positions include its officers, directly elected directors, and affiliate representatives to the board of directors.
NACDL's Board of Directors met on Feburary 15, 2020 in San Diego.
The Board of Directors adopted a statement of principles regarding the overcriminalization of public health order violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NACDL's board of directors met on October 26, 2019 in Washington, DC.
This is an outdated version of NACDL’s bylaws, and is available strictly for archival purposes. The version of the bylaws below took effect in August 2019 and was further amended in February 2020. Please consult NACDL’s current bylaws or governance documents for any current governance-related questions.
On August 3, 2019, at a regularly scheduled meeting in Philadelphia, the Board of Directors voted to submit proposed amendments to bylaws articles V, VI, VII, VIII, and XI. The membership will vote on the adoption of these proposed amendments at its 2020 Midwinter Meeting.
NACDL's bylaws are the foundational governing documents of the association.
The Board of Directors adopted the following protocol for the Lawyers’ Assistance Strike Force on February 15, 2020.
The Executive Committee authorized NACDL’s president and executive director to seek available government and other financial assistance in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
