WASHINGTON DC, June 25, 2009 — During a speech to the American Council of Chief Defenders (ACCD), a section of the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder opened a new era of dialogue with the nation’s indigent defense leaders and made a historic gesture to improve the quality of indigent defense in this country by proposing steps for improving the nation’s overburdened criminal justice system. Holder said his five steps were necessary to “renew the department’s commitment to improving the indigent defense system.” Those five steps are outlined below:

First. Resume the dialogue between public defense leaders and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that was first started a decade ago with the formation of the ACCD. This would involve bringing together key players in public defense, including leaders from NLADA and other organizations, to share ideas and work together to progress the cause of equal justice.

Second. Expand and sustain the current conversation taking place nationally about defense issues by holding regular meetings with the criminal defense bar. This would be a resumption of work done by former attorney generals Ed Meese and Janet Reno, but this time would include members of the indigent defense community, who would be able to discuss topical issues and concerns. It would also serve as an ideal platform for public defense representative to give the DOJ feedback.

Third. Ensure public defenders are at the table when the DOJ meets with other criminal justice stakeholders. This includes getting components from across the DOJ to include members of the public defense system as a voice in a range of meetings, conferences, review panels and other venues where the public defense perspective is invaluable.

Fourth. Expand DOJ’s commitment in collecting accurate and meaningful data on public defense programs, so it will be better equipped to answer questions and provide assistance. This includes conducting surveys that are representative of all aspects of indigent defense services, including representation provided by contract and pro bono attorneys.

Fifth. The DOJ will host a national conference, built upon similar conferences held in 1999 and 2000, which will focus on issues related to indigent defense and will include discussions on strategy, development and innovative collaborations. The hope is that at this conference, a series of best practices based on indigent defense from across the country will be developed, as well as to highlight innovative programs and efforts, such as using technology and mentoring in effective ways. The conference will also function to help public defender offices develop strategies on how to become involved in the decision making process relating to funding.

“The steps outlined by Attorney General Holder, are a strong sign that real and positive change for our troubled criminal justice system is coming,” said NLADA President & CEO Jo-Ann Wallace. “We applaud the Attorney General’s leadership on issues of indigent defense and are confident that together with NLADA and its partners, true access to justice will be available to all people.”

For more information on NLADA and the ACCD, please contact Jeff Billington, deputy director of communications, at j.billington@nlada.org or 202-452-0620 ext. 230.

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The American Council of Chief Defenders (ACCD) is dedicated to promoting fair justice systems by advocating sound public policies and ensuring quality legal representation to people who are facing a loss of liberty or accused of a crime who cannot afford an attorney.

The National Legal Aid & Defender Association, founded in 1911, is the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership organization devoting all of its resources to advocating equal access to justice for all Americans. NLADA champions effective legal assistance for people who cannot afford counsel, serves as a collective voice for both civil legal services and public defense services throughout the nation and provides a wide range of services and benefits to its individual and organizational members. NLADA has long played a leadership role in the development of national standards for public defense systems and processes for evaluating a jurisdiction's compliance with those standards.