Committees

Get involved and make a difference

NAPD’s committees are member-driven groups at that serve as the heart and the hands of our mission. Our committees connect public defenders in long-term, meaningful collaboration to build collective power and drive real change in the public defense community. Each committee focuses on a distinct issue impacting working conditions and quality of life for public defense professionals and their capacity to provide a zealous defense for all those exercising their right to counsel. 

Getting involved in a committee is one of the most impactful ways to contribute to the evolution of public defense. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or newer to the field, committees offer a space to share your expertise, learn from peers, and directly shape the resources, policies, and strategies that support defenders and their clients nationwide. 

If you’re passionate about justice and want to move the needle beyond your own jurisdiction, NAPD’s committees are where that work happens. 

Amicus Committee

The NAPD Amicus Committee is integral to advancing the rights of public defenders and the people they serve. Members of this committee prepare and file amicus briefs in significant litigation, identifying cases where NAPD’s voice can make a meaningful impact. The committee authors and reviews briefs that align with NAPD’s values and goals, solicits support from the larger membership, and collaborates closely with NAPD leadership to align priorities with the organization’s mission and community needs. 

Systems Builders Committee

The NAPD Systems Builders Committee is dedicated to fortifying public defense systems across the country and mobilizing responses to urgent threats to the integrity and accessibility of right to counsel nationwide. Committee members offer mentorship to public defenders at all levels and develops policy statements that reflect best practices in the field. Its work includes providing training and on-site technical assistance, fostering collaboration among stakeholders in the public defense community, recruiting and developing talent to support NAPD’s mission, and engaging veteran and emerging leaders to share expertise and insights.

Workloads Committee

The NAPD Workloads Committee works to ensure that every public defender organization in the nation can reliably demonstrate the level of resources needed for public defenders to provide constitutionally effective assistance of counsel to every client. The committee develops workload reduction guidance and training, supports community partners and engages the media in the advancement of workloads related research and advocacy efforts, and conducts convenings to support public defense leaders in ending excessive caseloads and provide tools for utilizing emerging workloads data. Through advocacy, data, and strategy, the Workloads Committee equips defenders with the tools to make the case for adequate funding and systemic reform.