CLICK HERE to read the full report in the NAPD Public Resource Library, or see below for our letter from the NAPD Executive Director, Lori James.
This year marks five years that I have been the Executive Director of the National Association for Public Defense. So much has changed in our world in that short time. Transformations in government and technology have compelled us to ask: how do we stand up for the values of human dignity, purpose, and justice?
As public defenders, this is our mission, and it always has been. This is why we train each other, uplift each other, and demand better treatment. Just this year, NAPD hosted ten conferences, including our first ever Family Defense Conference—the first of its kind, by and for public defenders. We gathered our diverse communities at monthly meetups to strategize around urgent threats to civil rights. We advocated for ethical workloads for public defenders and humane treatment of our clients.
To make all of this possible, we have expanded our team and modernized our membership system and online presence. I invite you to visit thenapd.org, our new home online that makes all of our resources and communities more connected and easier to access.
Our people are our power, and you are my inspiration. Thank you for a remarkable five years. I look forward to the work ahead.
– Dr. Lori James, Executive Director