NLADA participates in National Symposium on Indigent Defense - First in 10 years

Members of the NLADA team have been involved in the DOJ National Symposium on Indigent Defense, Looking Back, Looking Forward (February 18, 19, Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC) - the first such Symposium in 10 years that brought together indigent defense leaders, unlikely allies, and justice system stakeholders from throughout the country. The Symposium is illustrative of the hope that the federal government will once again engage in ensuring justice for all. Jo-Ann Wallace was recognized and thanked for her contributions to the success of the conference as well as her tremendous achievements in indigent defense, by Attorney General Eric Holder and Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson in their respective opening remarks.

The research and reform work led by NLADA's Director of Research and Evaluation David Carroll was touted throughout the Symposium and held up as a critical piece in the reform efforts in Nevada, Louisiana and Idaho.

And, at the reception on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 18th, hosted by NLADA and the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute on Race and Justice (CHHIRJ), Jo-Ann Wallace and Charles Ogletree, founding and executive director of CHHIRJ) were pleased to welcome Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Congressman Bobby Scott. Numerous state justices and senior level executives in government, indigent defense and policy were present.

You can read more about the Symposium events and find links to the agenda and video at http://www.nlada.net/library/article/agholderkeynotessymposium02-18-2010, including the keynote address by Attorney General Eric Holder, opening remarks by Charles Ogletree and Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson, the first Plenary session on Fulfilling the Promise of Counsel, and the second Plenary session on Innovations in Juvenile Defense Reform.

To learn more about the state of indigent defense services in jurisdictions across America, read http://www.nlada.net/library/article/measuringconstitutionalrepresentationndli02-19-2001