The University of Maryland announces its newly-built 70,000-square foot state-of-the-art School of Public Policy building will bear the name of civil rights lawyer and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (view full article).
As we commemorate Black History Month, it is crucial to reflect on landmark legal cases that have significantly contributed to the ongoing struggle for racial justice. One such pivotal case is Batson v. Kentucky.
At James K. Batson's 1982 state-court trial for burglary and receiving stolen property, the prosecution used “peremptory strikes” to remove four possible jurors who, like Batson, were black. The resulting all-white jury convicted Batson; he received a 20-year sentence.
Jean Camper Cahn is a lawyer who helped establish federal financing of legal services to the poor and was a co-founder of the Antioch School of Law, the predecessor to the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law.
The Antioch School of Law was established in 1972 by Jean Camper Cahn and Edgar S. Cahn, a married interracial couple dedicated to improving legal services for the underprivileged.
Anthony L. Ricco, a native of Harlem, New York, is one of the premier criminal defense attorneys in the nation.
His career has been defined by his unwavering dedication to criminal defense and social justice. He has tirelessly championed the rights of individuals facing legal challenges, particularly those from marginalized communities facing the death penalty and lengthy sentences.
As we embrace the month of March, we celebrate Women's History Month—a time to especially applaud the profound contributions and achievements of women throughout history.
With immense pride and honor, the Training Division acknowledges the indomitable spirit, unwavering dedication, and exceptional talents of the remarkable women within Defender Nation who tirelessly advocate for justice and equality every day.
Clara Shortridge Foltz was the first woman lawyer on the Pacific Coast and the founder of the public defender movement. She sued for entrance into California’s only law school, tried cases in court when women were not allowed to serve on juries and played a key role in winning women’s suffrage in California 100 years ago, as well as other struggles for civil rights and legal reform.
For 60 years, the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) has ensured that people who cannot afford to retain an attorney in federal criminal cases receive professional legal counsel at no cost.
The full U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved Judge Melissa R. DuBose’s historic nomination as the first person of color and first openly LGBTQ judge to serve on the U.S. District Court for Rhode Island (view full article).
Jasmine Yoon has been confirmed by the Senate and will become the first Asian American Article III federal judge to serve in Virginia (view full article).
She will be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia.
Yoon, who was born in South Korea, was nominated by President Joe Biden to fill the position when Chief Judge Michael F. Urbanski assumes senior status in July 2024.
On March 18, 1963, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments guaranteed appointment of counsel for Mr. Clarence Earl Gideon and all others facing serious criminal charges who cannot afford to retain counsel on their own. On re-trial with an attorney, Mr. Gideon was acquitted of all charges.
As Public Defense Day is observed nationwide, it serves as a poignant reminder of the tireless dedication of defense professionals.