SIXTY YEARS OF GIDEON,

TEN YEARS OF NAPD

In October 2013, 30 public defense advocates held the first meeting of what would become NAPD. In their original concept paper, they reflected on how far public defense had come since Gideon vs. Wainwright, and where it had to go next:

Every day, facing what many would describe as insurmountable obstacles, public defenders across this country proudly stand next to their clients determined to protect the rights of the poor accused by the government. We fight to defend liberty, to convey dignity, and to provide a voice for our clients who have been relegated to the fringes of our society. We strive to protect the constitutional rights of our clients who-due to their poverty-are often treated as if they have somehow forfeited those rights. This anniversary year will likewise mark the point in history when public defenders assumed the responsibility as catalysts for change.

In 2023, NAPD marked another ten years of Gideon and ten years as an association:

We’re reimagining who we are, not settling even for what Gideon envisioned. We’re listening to clients tell us what they need. We’re rooting out our own racial bias and elevating more diverse leaders. And we’re using today’s tools to take on today’s legal problems, like digital evidence and gender-based criminalization. Gideon is an important chapter in our story. But there’s more to be told.

NAPD 10 Year Anniversary

A Decade for Defense