The 2026 National Seminar for Federal Defenders (Advanced Defenders) is an in-person, invite-only conference for Federal Defender attorneys, which will take place May 27-29, 2026 in New Orleans,…
Read Full SpotlightThe Defender Services Office Training Division (DSOTD), furthers the right to effective assistance of counsel by providing training and other resources to attorneys appointed under the CJA.
Spotlight
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2026 National Seminar for Federal Defenders (Advanced Defenders)
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Federal Defender Interpreters: Join the FDO Interpreter List!
Interpreters and staff providing interpreter services within the Federal Public and Community Defenders offices are encouraged to connect with other interpreters using the FDO Interpreter email…
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Appellate Advocacy Webinar Series Update!
The Defender Services Office Training Division launched it’s Appellate Advocacy Series in April of 2022. Over the past four years, training content and on-demand videos have been added to the…
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Featured Training Events
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Jun. 17, 2026 (1:00PM–2:00PM)
Virtual
This presentation is about exploring creative approaches to reviewing and decoding not only the typical records gathered through scorched-earth…
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Jun. 23, 2026 (2:00PM) – Jun. 24, 2026 (6:00PM)
Virtual
Women are a powerful force within the federal defense community: from serving as receptionists, paralegals and investigators to mitigation…
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Jul. 16, 2026 (8:30AM) – Jul. 18, 2026 (12:30PM)
In-Person
The Andrea Taylor Sentencing Advocacy Workshop focuses on a vital area of federal practice that has evolved since the Supreme Court declared the…
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Latest News
Defendant in a North Dakota fraud trial wasn't permitted to introduce statements from a recording of the gov't preparing its star witness, a co-fraudster who received a sweetheart plea deal of pretrial diversion even though he was facing 60 years imprisonment. Defense: I'd like to show portions…
Read Full News PostFor some clever lawyering, check out this Eighth Circuit (2-1) decision. In 2024, the Supreme Court held in…
Read Full News PostLong novels teach us patience: endure enough chapters and eventually the villains get their comeuppance. Civil rights cases are less reliable in this regard. Accountability often arrives late, diluted, or not at all. But the…
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CLE Information Center
Information about general CLE regulations by state and how the DSO Training Division as a "Sponsor" facilitates CLE for its programs.
Featured Criminal Defense Topics
Other Resources
Featured Resource:
The Defender Services Office has established a partnership with National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) to provide training and resources to CJA practitioners around the country on immigration-related issues.