The Association Of Federal Defense Attorneys (AFDA) is the only association devoted exclusively to the interests of federal criminal defense attorneys. The organization has been formed with a commitment to provide attorneys with the educational resources and support that are essential to effectively represent defendants in federal district and appellate courts.
AFDA was formed in 1994 by Los Angeles defense attorney Gregory Nicolaysen, with the objective that it will ultimately maintain local chapters in each of the major federal districts nationwide.
Our Web Site:
The Ideal Resource For The Federal Defense Attorney
AFDA's web site, which first opened in the fall of 1995, serves as the association's nucleus, providing members with a comprehensive Research section containing many databases, including hundreds of case law summaries of Circuit and Supreme Court rulings; a library for downloading a variety of documents including research outlines; an extensive collection of key web sites in federal law; an audio library, and -- in the near future -- online seminars. Click here for more details on the web site.
Our Internal Email System:
Keeping Members Up To Date,
Networking The Defense Bar
In addition to using the web site, AFDA members regularly receive email updates on key cases, legislative enactments and strategic tips for federal practitioners. The updates are sent through the web site's internal email message system, which has been custom-programmed for this web site. This system provides each AFDA member with a private email inbox and a personal email address with the extension "@afda.org". Email messages from clients and colleagues anywhere on the Internet can be sent to this private inbox, which can be accessed only by that member.
In addition, the internal email system promotes networking among members. The "Send Email" feature allows members to communicate with each other by posting an email message, which the system automatically transmits as an individual email message to each member's private inbox. The custom-programming for our system provides a high level of security. This unique feature enables members to send and receive email messages within the membership without having to be concerned about intrusions from the general public, or delivery problems in the Internet which often affect the standard ListServ systems used by other organizations.
Our Focus:
To Provide Content With A Conservative Look
The web site is conservatively designed to be content-oriented for the practicing attorney who needs inexpensive access to research material. For this purpose, the association has avoided flashy graphics or eye-catching gizmos that have become the hallmark of consumer marketing on the web.
Our Membership:
A Diverse Pool Of Federal Practitioners
Diversity is the key to a valuable assocation. Guided by this principle, the web site does not cater to a specific branch of the federal defense bar. The site reaches both the court-appointed lawyers who handle "grass roots" criminal cases, and the larger firms that tend to concentrate on business/white collar crime defense. For example, you will see in the Research area of the web site a long topical index of subject matters that range from firearm/drug/bank robbery cases (typical court-appointed stuff) to mail fraud/grand jury witness/false statements cases (the white collar diet). Servicing a diverse pool of federal defense practitioners is an important part of our educational commitment.
Complementing The Work Of Other Bar Associations
It is not AFDA's aim to duplicate or compete with services already being provided by other bar associations. Other criminal bar associations should view AFDA's function as being complementary, not competitive. We welcome the opportunity to work in tandem with all criminal bar associations in order to provide the best service to federal defense attorneys nationwide.
Using Internet Technology To Our Advantage
Criminal defense lawyers must have at their disposal an Internet-based association like AFDA, with its ability to use Internet technology to network the defense bar on a national scale, and provide low-cost research services.
All practitioners know that the field of federal criminal litigation has undergone significant changes that have weighed heavily on defense attorneys. Since the mid-1980's, politically-motivated and often radical legislative enactments have sharply increased the stakes for defendants and have grossly distorted the balance of power in favor of prosecutors. Congress routinely curries favor with the American public through crime legislation, at the expense of defendants' rights, manifested graphically by the drug laws. Sentencing guideline interpretation grows increasingly complex as circuit courts split over definitional standards, and agonize over departure theories.
Meanwhile, as Congress steadily increases funding for U.S. Attorney offices and federal law enforcement agencies, the Federal Defender budget, which covers both the Public Defenders and court-appointed (CJA) attorneys, barely operates at a subsistence level. CJA rates have remained static and totally out of sync with the economic realities of operating a criminal defense practice. Lawyers are struggling to make ends meet, particularly CJA lawyers, as more and more of them are being forced to work out of their homes on shoestring budgets.
Recognizing the economic constraints and resource needs of the Public Defenders and CJA attorneys, AFDA has compiled a vast quantity of materials online to save money and time and greatly facilitate the handling of court-appointed cases. For the defense lawyer who does not have a federal library, or the lawyer who simply wants to cut to the chase in conducting research, the web site offers indexed subject matter outlines with case law summaries that link you directly to the opinions. This, in combination with the diverse range of other research materials on the web site, make AFDA an indispensable tool for all practitioners.
Beyond the court-appointed defense bar, lawyers from private firms also need a centralized resource on the Internet for federal criminal defense materials. To this end, the AFDA web site offers a Business/White Collar section, audio updates and a multitude of documents to download, all of which are geared for the private firm handling business crime litigation. In addition, the indexed case law summaries cover many white collar-related topics; and the updates on new circuit rulings and legislative issues, which are sent by email to members regularly, make and AFDA membership extremely valuable to the private firm.
Legislative Advocacy:
Enhancing Our Voice In Congress
As AFDA's membership grows, its role as a legislative voice on Capitol Hill for the federal defense bar will likewise grow. In tandem with other associations that have already forged a path of advocacy in this field, such as the American Bar Association, AFDA will develop a specific legislative platform aimed at aggressively voicing the needs and concerns of the defense bar, with a particular focus on CJA attorneys, who have suffered for many years from a complete absence of effective advocacy on Capitol Hill.
Continuing Education Seminars
At a substantial discount to its members, AFDA periodically presents inexpensive, one-day seminars at major hotels. These seminars have received high marks from attendees for their excellent presentations and generous handout materials. Since the organization's formation in 1994, seminar topics have covered: the 1994 federal crime bill, advanced federal sentencing, basic federal sentencing, bail/detention hearings, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For upcoming events, click on the "AFDA Legal Seminars" bar on the home page of the web site.
National Growth:
Local Chapters of AFDA
AFDA is presently creating local chapters in all major cities nationwide, for the purpose of enabling members to meet on a regular basis to discuss developments in the law, recent events, and to network and socialize. If you are interested in serving as a chapter head, please read our local chapter file.
Thank you for taking the time to read this overview of AFDA. If you are not yet a member of AFDA, join today. You may also communicate with us by sending us email.