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Public Defense News

News and news archives available at indigentdefense.org. Email Mark Pickett at [email protected] with news, jobs, events, or subscription requests.

Here is the public defense news for June 26-July 9, 2025

Do you have a case on appeal, the outcome of which would have a significant effect on criminal law or procedure? Please consider consulting with ABA SCLAID about seeking an amicus brief with the ABA Amicus Committee. We can help determine if the issues in the case implicate ABA policy, which is a threshold requirement for any ABA amicus brief. The amicus committee tends to favor cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, but it will approve federal appeals court and state supreme court briefs from time to time. Be aware that, because the ABA is a member led organization with a government-like structure, the amicus approval process takes longer than one might expect. SCLAID has been unable to assist attorneys with potentially amicus-worthy cases in recent months due to insufficient time. Please reach out to SCLAID 10 weeks or more before the amicus brief’s anticipated filing deadline to ensure there is enough time to review the case, recruit amicus counsel, submit the amicus application to the committee, obtain initial approval from the committee, draft the brief, and have the draft reviewed by the committee. Contact ABA Indigent Defense Counsel Mark Pickett, [email protected], about your case.

Looks for stories this week about the appointed counsel work stoppage in Massachusetts, ongoing turmoil in Louisiana, and a Queens, New York public defender who was falsely accused of smuggling drugs into Rikers Island.

This issue of Public Defense News covers two weeks due to the July 4 holiday.

Of Interest:
Paying Attorneys of the Sixth – new tool from 6AC that lists appointed counsel compensation rates in every U.S. jurisdiction

Northwestern Law School Chicago

Public Defense Summit Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, IL, April 4-5, 2025, Hybrid Event | 9 CLE Credit Hrs

Public defenders are increasingly being asked to do more with less. Offices face staff turnover and reduced budgets, despite new and emerging responsibilities. The changing political climate will present challenges to public defenders and their clients as well. This program explored how the public defense community, from new defenders to seasoned administrators, could confront these issues.

Learn - More

Court Watching

ABA Court Watching

ABA SCLAID and CRSJ have coordinated on a number of court watching efforts. These efforts have focused on misdemeanor and other low-level criminal and civil infraction courts.

Learn More - Courts

Reports and Publications

Reports and Publications on Indigent Defense

Here you will find recent books and reports concerning indigent criminal defense, as well as links to archived materials.

Learn More - Reports

Events, Webinars and CLE

Indigent Defense Events

SCLAID regularly hosts, sponsors or co-sponsors a variety of events on topics relating to public defense or of interest to the public defense community. This page features upcoming events, meetings and CLE, as well as past events available on video.

Explore - Events

ABA Standards and Policies

Standards and Policies

View standards and policies related to public defense.

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Subscribe to Public Defense News

The Public Defense News is a weekly newsletter for public defenders, appointed indigent defense counsel, public defense administrators, and other people, including non-lawyers, who work in the public defense space. Subscribe and receive news updates on public defense issues from around the country, job postings, and other items of interest to public defense providers (almost) every Wednesday.

Technical Assistance

Find information regarding technical assistance to courts, bar associations, and other entities.