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.
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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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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.
Brief of Amicus curiae of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Legal Ethics Professors and Legal Ethics Practitioners In Support of Respondent.
Argument: Advisory Ethics Opinion E-435 does not conflict with controlling federal law. Federal statutes, regulations, and court rules recognize the lawyer conduct ethics rules of this state. Opinion E-435 correctly concludes that waiver of ineffective assistance claims at a guilty plea create a conflict of interest for the defense lawyer that the prosecutor cannot impose on a pleading defendant. Conclusion: “Kentucky Ethics Op. E-435 is a correct statement of the controlling ethical principles and does not conflict with any law. The governing of lawyer conduct is completely within the power of the State, and federal prosecutors are bound by the State’s ethics rules under 28 U.S.C. §530b. This ethics opinion governs the conduct of prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys who practice in the state courts of Kentucky as well in the federal courts in Kentucky. Therefore, the U.S. Attorney’s brief of United States in Support of Motion for Review of Ethics Opinion should be rejected and the ethics opinion as written should be affirmed.”
