NACDL News Releases

NACDL Statement on Dobbs, the Criminalization of Pregnancy and Reproductive Health, and the Human Toll of Overcriminalization – Washington, DC (June 24, 2022) – Today, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the S

Nation’s Defense Bar Celebrates Juneteenth National Independence Day – Washington, DC (June 17, 2022) – On Sunday, the nation will celebrate its 155th Juneteenth National Independence Day. This day commemorates the effective en

Joint IACDL and NACDL Statement Concerning the Presumption of Innocence, the Presumption of Pretrial Release, and Fundamental Fairness in Our Criminal Legal System – Washington, DC (June 10, 2022) – During a press conference held on

Nation’s Defense Bar Condemns Supreme Court Decision Undermining the Right of Habeas Corpus – Washington, DC (May 31, 2022) – Last week, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion undermining the capacity of federal cour

On the Second Anniversary of George Floyd’s Murder, Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Calls for Renewed Focus on Reform – Washington, DC (May 25, 2022) – Two years ago, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Praises Recent Biden Administration Commutations, Pardons, and Reentry Initiatives, Calls on White House to Increase Clemency Grants – Washington, DC (April 26, 2022) – Today, the Biden ad

NACDL President on the Supreme Court’s Failure to Address Naked Racial Prejudice – Washington, DC (April 20, 2022) – NACDL President Martín Sabelli issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s failure to

The Nation’s Defense Bar Celebrates Historic Confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court  – Washington, DC (April 7, 2022) – NACDL celebrates the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson based on her unassailable q

NACDL Mourns Loss of Former Board Member John Kenneth Zwerling ("JZ") – Washington, DC (March 29, 2022) – John Kenneth Zwerling ("JZ") passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 27, 2022. For those that knew John, and fo

Statement on Meaningful Diversity in the Judiciary – Why the Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson Marks a Sea Change – Washington, DC (March 21, 2022) – NACDL celebrates the historic nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Su

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Executive Director Lisa M. Wayne on Public Defense Day and the Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson -- Washington, DC (March 18, 2022) –On Public Defense Day 2022, NACDL Executive Director Lisa M. Wayn

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Again Calls on DOJ Leadership to Address Inhumane Conditions at Rikers Island – Washington, DC (March 18, 2022) – On Monday, March 14, NACDL and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NY

NACDL President Elect Nellie L. King Awarded the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida’s 2022 Harriette S. Glasner Award -- Washington, DC (March 17, 2022) - On March 13, 2022, the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Presents Champion of Justice Advocacy Award to Jason Hernandez – Washington, DC (March 8, 2022) – On Friday, February 25, Jason Hernandez was awarded the National Association of Criminal Defense La

Defense Attorney and Criminal Law Professor JaneAnne Murray Receives NACDL’s Champion of Justice Legal Award -- Washington, DC (March 7, 2022) – JaneAnne Murray was awarded the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Cham

The Nation’s Defense Bar Celebrates Historic Nomination of First Black Woman, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court – Washington, DC (Feb. 25, 2022) – NACDL celebrates the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the firs

NACDL Remembers Past President Robert "Fogie" Fogelnest – Washington, DC (Feb. 8, 2022) – Robert Fogelnest, known to his friends as "Fogie," passed peacefully at his home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on February 6,

NACDL Condemns the Continued Use of Dangerous "No Knock" Warrants, Calls to End the Practice – Washington, DC (Feb. 7, 2022) – In the wake of the killing of Amir Locke by Minneapolis police last week, NACDL leaders and staff iss

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Mourns Tucson Attorney and NACDL Death Penalty Committee Chair Natman Schaye -- Washington, DC (Jan. 31, 2022) - The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is extremely saddened by the loss of Tucso

Virginia Redemption Project Secures Release, Continues Work In Hopes For More -- Washington, DC (Jan. 19, 2022) – Last week, one of NACDL’s Return to Freedom efforts, the Virginia Redemption Project, secured its first conditional pardon grant.

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Welcomes BOP Rule Allowing for the Release of Thousands Under the First Step Act – Washington, DC (Jan. 13, 2022) – Thousands will be released from federal prisons over the next weeks thank

NACDL Condemns Inhumane Conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn – Washington, DC (Jan. 7, 2022) – The Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center subjects people awaiting trial to inhumane and dangerous pandemic conditions.

NACDL Calls on Members to Protect People Accused of Crimes and their Communities from COVID, and Join Fight to Oppose the Trial Penalty –​ Washington, DC (Dec. 23, 2021) – Two days ago, the Commissioner of New York’s Department of

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Commends Biden Administration’s Decision to Reconsider Returning Individuals to Prison after COVID-19 Pandemic – Washington, DC (Dec. 21, 2021) – NACDL recognizes the Department

Heritage Foundation and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: More Progress Needed to Safeguard the Intent Requirement in Federal Criminal Law -- Washington, DC (Dec. 13, 2021) -- The Heritage Foundation and the National Association

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Opposes Dehumanizing Racist Language Used in the Trial of the Killing of Ahmaud Arbery -- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) President Martín Antonio Sabelli issued the following statement on behalf

Rittenhouse Verdict Highlights Need to Revive Trials to Ensure Justice for All American and Redress Racial Injustice in the Criminal Legal System – Washington, DC (Nov. 21, 2021) – "Americans are deeply divided over the acq

NACDL Media Advisory -- Abortion in America: How Legislative Overreach Is Turning Reproductive Rights into Criminal Wrongs -- NACDL is pleased to invite you to a 90-minute webinar, Abortion in America: How Legislative Overreach Is Turning R

Washington, DC (Oct. 25, 2021) – On Saturday, October 23, 2021, the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) voted to appoint NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice (NFCJ) President and NACDL Past President L

Knoxville, TN, Attorney Stephen Ross Johnson Sworn in as Treasurer of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar --  Washington, DC (Oct. 15, 2021) – Stephen Ross Johnson was sworn in as Treasurer of the National Association of Criminal Defense L

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Former Executive Director Norman L. Reimer -- Washington, DC (Oct. 12, 2021) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) awarded NACDL Former Executive Dir

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Presents Champion of Justice Legal Award to President and CEO of The Taifa Group LLC Nkechi Taifa -- Washington, DC (Oct. 12, 2021) – Nkechi Taifa was awarded the National Association of Criminal Defense

Nation's Criminal Defense Bar Presents Carrie Johnson with its Champion of Justice Journalism Award -- Washington, DC (Oct. 12, 2021) – On Thursday, October 7, 2021, at the 20th Anniversary Gala of the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice

Lava Records CEO Jason Flom Receives Champion of Justice Philanthropy Award from the Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar -- ​Washington, DC (Oct. 7, 2021) —  On October 7, 2021, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL

The International Legal Foundation and the Legal Aid Society of Puerto Rico’s Juvenile Justice Program Receive Champion of Public Defense Awards from Nation's Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Oct. 12, 2021) — At the NACDL Found

NACDLPress Publishes Just in the Nick of Time, by Denver, Colorado Defense Attorney David B. Savitz -- Washington, DC (Sept. 28, 2021) - Today, NACDL’s publishing unit, NACDLPress, released Just in the Nick of Time, a timely story about the intersec

NACDL Releases Major Task Force Report on Data-Driven Policing, Racism, and Bias in the Criminal Legal System -- Washington, DC (Sept. 14, 2021) –  The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) released its latest report &nd

Illinois State Senator Robert J. Peters, Illinois State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., and Illinois State Representative Justin Slaughter Receive the 2021 Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award from Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar

FAMM, NACDL and Washington Lawyers’ Committee Launch CARES Act Home Confinement Clearinghouse -- Washington, DC (Aug. 19, 2021) – FAMM, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), and the Washington Lawyers’ Commit

New Report from Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Highlights the Threat of Abortion Criminalization -- Washington, DC (Aug. 18, 2021) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) released a ground-breaking report today outlining

NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project Welcomes Handful of Clemency Grants and Expresses Disappointment in Four Years of Missed Opportunities by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo -- Washington, DC (Aug. 18, 2021) – Yesterday evening, New York Governor

Washington, DC, Attorney Barry J. Pollack Receives Prestigious 2021 Heeney Award from Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (July 27, 2021) – Attorney Barry J. Pollack received the Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award from the National As

NACDL Presents Champion of Justice Legal Award to the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender -- Washington, DC (July 27, 2021) - At its annual meeting on July 24, 2021, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) presented

San Francisco, CA, Lawyer Martín Antonio Sabelli Sworn In as President of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar — Washington, DC (July 26, 2021) — Martín Antonio Sabelli was sworn in as President of the National Association of Crimin

2021-22 Officers and Newly-Elected and Re-Elected Members of the NACDL Board of Directors Sworn in at Annual Meeting -- Washington, DC (July 26, 2021) - NACDL installed newly-elected officers and directors at its Annual Board and Membership Meeting o

Biden Administration Poised to Return Thousands to Federal Prison Following COVID-era Home Confinement -- NACDL Calls on President Biden to Commute the Sentences of People Living in CARES Act Home Confinement -- Washington, DC (July 20, 2021) &n

NACDL Appoints Long-Serving Associate Executive Director for Policy Kyle O’Dowd as Interim Executive Director -- Washington, DC (July 6, 2021) -- On February 15, 2020, at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Midwinter Me

New NACDL Report Shines Light on the "S" Visa Program -- Washington, DC (June 29, 2021) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today released an important new report – Shining a Light on the "S" Visa: A Long History of Unful

NACDL Statement on Juneteenth National Independence Day -- Washington, DC (June 19, 2021) – Today, the nation marks Juneteenth National Independence Day. The statement below is from NACDL President Christopher W. Adams: "NACDL, which had already rec

Washington, DC (June 16, 2021) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) was awarded the Alfred McKenzie Award during the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs’ 2021 Wiley A. Branton

National and Georgia Criminal Defense Bars Condemn Georgia’s So-Called Election Integrity Act -- Groups Call Out Brazen Use of Overcriminalization to Undermine Exercise of the Fundamental Constitutional Right to Vote, Strongly Urging Repeal. --

Reimer to be Honored at NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice Gala in Washington, DC, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. -- Washington, DC (June 7, 2021) – On February 15, 2020, at the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) Midwint

Washington, DC (May 25, 2021) – Today, the nation marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic and senseless death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. The statement below is from NACDL President Christopher W. Adams:

New Jersey’s and Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Statement on Gov. Murphy’s Veto of Legislation Repealing Mandatory Minimums for Certain Offenses – Washington, DC (April 20, 2021) – The National Association of Cr

New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Publish Groundbreaking Report on Trial Penalty in New York — Washington, DC (March 26, 2021) — Today, the New York State Asso

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Applauds Abolition of the Death Penalty in Virginia -- Washington, DC (March 24, 2021) – Today, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the 23rd state, in addition to the District of Columbia, to abolish or overt

Last Prisoner Project and Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Establish Cannabis Justice Initiative — Washington, DC (March 23, 2021) — The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Last Prisoner Project (LPP)

NACDL Statement of Support for Myanmar Attorneys and the Rule of Law -- Washington, DC (Mar. 16, 2021) – Attorneys in Myanmar are reported to be under attack. Yesterday, the European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA) Human Rights Committee issued

New Jersey’s and Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Call on Gov. Murphy to Sign S3456, Repealing Mandatory Minimums for Certain Offenses -- Washington, DC (Mar. 11, 2021) – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) President Ch

NACDL’s Corrections Committee Launches Online Resource Tracking the State of Prison and Jail Communications Systems -- Committee also releases manual on navigating the federal prison system. --Washington, DC (March 8, 2021) – Today, the N

White House Commutes Sentences of Individuals Punished for Exercising Their Sixth Amendment Right to Trial – Washington, DC (Jan. 20, 2021) – In the early morning hours today, President Trump granted commutations to 14 deserving individuals wh

Federal Compassionate Release Clearinghouse Celebrates Milestones and Continues Recruiting Volunteer Attorneys – Washington, DC (Dec. 22, 2020) – As of today, the Federal Compassionate Release Clearinghouse, a collaborative pro bono

District of Columbia Compassionate Release Project Frees Over a Dozen and Continues Important Work – Washington, DC (Dec. 22, 2020) – The District of Columbia Compassionate Release Project is a coalition of advocates including NACDL, the

New Report Calls on Federal Bureau of Prisons to Stop Monitoring Confidential Legal Emails –Washington, DC (Dec. 11, 2020) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Samuelson Law, Technology &

Washington, DC (Dec. 10, 2020) – Today, NACDL released its model "Second Look" sentencing legislation and accompanying report -- Second Look = Second Chance: The NACDL Model "Second Look" Legislation. 

NACDL Trial Penalty Clemency Project Adds to Previous Petitions Awaiting Action by the White House – Washington, DC (Dec. 4, 2020) – This week, NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project submitted five more fede

Prosecutor, Criminal Defense Lawyer, and Public Health Law Organizations Call for Criminal Legal and Detention Systems as COVID-19 Vaccination Priority – Washington, DC (Dec. 3, 2020) – Today, the National Association of Criminal Def

NACDL Trial Penalty Clemency Project Submits Second Set of Petitions to White House -- Washington, DC (Nov. 20, 2020) – As of this week, NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project submitted four more federal clemency petitions to the Office of the

Pennsylvania Attorney Theodore "Ted" Simon Receives Prestigious 2020 Heeney Award from Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Oct. 26, 2020) – On Saturday, October 24, Attorney Theodore "Ted" Simon of Ph

NACDL Trial Penalty Clemency Project Submits First Set of Petitions to White House -- Washington, DC (Oct. 13, 2020) – On October 2, 2020, NACDL’s Trial Penalty Clemency Project submitted its first set of federal clemency petitions to the Offi

Washington, DC (Sept. 23, 2020) – In the midst of a critically important national conversation about systemic racism, social justice, and police accountability, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) today announces the launch

Bryan Stevenson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nation's Criminal Defense Bar — Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), was awarded the National Association of Criminal Defense Law

Washington, DC (Aug. 18, 2020) – On August 18, 2020, Phil Cherner, Board Chair of Coloradans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, was presented with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (NACDL) Champion of Sta

Charleston, SC, Lawyer Christopher W. Adams Sworn In as President of Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar -- Washington, DC (Aug. 17, 2020) -- Christopher W. Adams of Charleston, SC, was sworn in as President of the National Association of Criminal De

2020-21 Officers and Newly-Elected and Re-Elected Members of the NACDL Board of Directors Sworn in at Annual Meeting -- Washington, DC (Aug. 17, 2020) - NACDL installed newly-elected officers and directors at its Annual Board and Membership Meeting o

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Welcomes New Title IX Regulations, Calls the Restoration of Due Process on Campus ‘Essential’ -- Washington, DC (Aug. 12, 2020) – New regulations released in May relating to the implementation of

Washington, DC (Aug. 6, 2020) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL), the ACLU of Virginia, Justice Forward Virginia, and the Legal Aid Justice Center (LAJC), toda

Washington, DC (July 28, 2020) –  Last night, Senate Republicans unveiled new coronavirus legislation that  fails to include the critical measures needed to address the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in federal and state correctional facilities.

Washington, DC (July 24, 2020) – The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) released a critically-important statement of principles and report in early June -- Criminal Court Reopening and Public Health in the COVID-19 Era. 

Washington, DC (July 23, 2020) – Beginning August 18, 2020, the Virginia General Assembly will convene a special legislative session during which it is expected to address numerous proposals for meaningful criminal justice reform in the Commonwealth

Washington, DC (July 15, 2020) -- It has now been over four months since the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) issued its first warning that the incarcerated people, staff, and communities inside and surrounding the nation’s p

It's Time to Replace Arrests with a Public Health Response to COVID-19 -- Washington, DC (June 18, 2020) -- On May 27, 2020, our organizations -- a multidisciplinary team of national law enforcement, public health and criminal legal organizations and

NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project Disappointed in Small Number of Commutations in New York -- The NACDL/FAMM State Clemency Project Calls on Governor Cuomo to Increase and Regularize Grants; ‘The Robust Exercise of Executive Clemency Power

Vanita Gupta, Brittany Barnett, Clark Neily, and Norman Reimer to participate in panel discussion about the film.

NACDL Issues Statement of Principles and Report – “Criminal Court Reopening and Public Health in the COVID-19 Era”

Class Action Lawsuit Filed Seeking Release of Medically Vulnerable Individuals from Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County, Calif. -- Washington, DC (June 1, 2020) -- The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), joined by California Attor

NACDL President Nina J. Ginsberg Demands Law Enforcement Reforms to Address Systemic Injustice and Promote Healing

Washington, DC (May 27, 2020) – A group of national organizations, including the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Center for HIV Law & Policy, today released a set of principles

Nation’s Criminal Defense Bar Decries Criminalization as Response to COVID-19, Warns of Disparate Impact -- Washington, DC (May 11, 2020) – On Saturday, May 9, 2020, NACDL’s Board of Directors unanimously adopted the “NACDL Supplem

In a massive pro bono effort, our groups are recruiting, training, and supporting lawyers who agree to represent individuals in federal prisons eligible for compassionate release and those at special risk due to COVID-19.

Washington, DC (March 23, 2020) – This afternoon, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a bill repealing the death penalty in Colorado, making Colorado the 22nd state in the United States, in addition to the District of Columbia, to abolish

Washington, DC (March 4, 2020) – The modern American way of criminal justice — mass incarceration on a scale exceeding both the absolute and per capita incarceration numbers of virtually every nation on earth — has set the stage for pote

Washington, DC (Feb. 26, 2020) – U.S. President Donald Trump has engaged in a pattern of relentless, escalating, and unprecedented attacks on the judiciary, judicial independence, and the judicial process itself. The National Association of Criminal

Washington, DC (Feb. 19, 2020) – On Friday, February 14, 2020, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) conferred its Champion of Justice Award to Justin Brooks, Director and Co-Founder of the California Innocence Project (CIP).