The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)

     The NLADA is one of the oldest and most influential organizations advocating for equitable access to justice. Founded in 1911, it works to ensure that public defenders and legal aid offices have the resources and support necessary to provide quality representation to those who cannot afford private counsel. The NLADA also provides training, policy advocacy, and technical assistance to public defenders and other legal professionals. Their efforts focus on raising awareness about systemic underfunding and promoting reforms to strengthen public defense systems.

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)

     Founded by Bryan Stevenson, the EJI focuses on addressing systemic inequality in the justice system, including the underfunding of public defense. The organization provides legal representation to individuals who have been wrongfully convicted, unfairly sentenced, or otherwise marginalized by the legal system. EJI also advocates for broader reforms to ensure equal justice under the law, particularly for indigent defendants. Its impactful work highlights the critical need for robust and well-funded public defense systems.

The Innocence Project

    The Innocence Project is dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and advocating for criminal justice reform. Many of the wrongful convictions they address stem from inadequate legal representation, often tied to overburdened and underfunded public defenders. By shining a light on these failures, the Innocence Project highlights the importance of funding and reforming public defense systems to prevent future injustices.

 Public Defense Improvement Act (Proposed)

    Introduced by members of Congress in recent years, the Public Defense Improvement Act seeks to provide federal grants to state and local governments to improve public defense systems. The proposed legislation aims to address chronic underfunding and reduce excessive caseloads, ensuring that defendants receive the representation they are constitutionally guaranteed.

 Oregon’s Investment in Public Defense (2023)

   In 2023, the state of Oregon passed legislation to allocate $100 million toward its public defense system. This funding aims to address the state’s severe shortage of public defenders, reduce caseloads, and improve access to quality legal representation for indigent defendants. Oregon’s effort serves as a model for how state governments can tackle the systemic issues plaguing public defense.
Read more: Oregon State Legislature