Through our Supreme Court Advocacy Program, DSOTD provides assistance to federal defender staff and panel attorneys representing CJA-eligible defendants in the United States Supreme Court. The Program brings together a variety of resources, including the Defender Supreme Court Resource & Assistance Panel (DSCRAP); the Supreme Court Institute at the Georgetown University Law Center; Jeffrey Green at Green Law Chartered; Sidley Austin LLP; and the Carter G. Phillips Supreme Court Practicum at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
If you would like to take advantage of the resources we provide through our Supreme Court Advocacy Program, please contact Craig Crawford, Attorney Advisor 202-502-1338, craig_crawford@ao.uscourts.gov). You determine the level of assistance that we will provide, from consultation with an attorney, to moot court practice sessions, to research assistance, to brief writing or editing.
DSCRAP brings together defenders from across the country who have expertise and practical experience on the particular issues of federal criminal law that come before the Court. DSCRAP attorneys can offer assistance on all phases of cert proceedings. Co-Chairs of DSCRAP are: Fran Pratt, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of Virginia; Alan DuBois, Federal Public Defender, Eastern District of North Carolina; and Brett Sweitzer, Assistant Federal Defender, Chief of Appeals, Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Georgetown’s Supreme Court Institute specializes in providing expert assistance in oral argument preparation, particularly to those attorneys who will be arguing before the Court for the first time. Visit Georgetown Law, Supreme Court Institute for more information on the Supreme Court Institute moots. Please be aware that the Supreme Court Institute’s mooting schedule generally fills up far in advance of argument, on a first come, first served basis.
The private firms and the Carter G. Phillips Supreme Court Practicum at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law provide a range of services, such as arranging moots, performing legal research, providing substantive and strategic advice, or editing and writing drafts of merits briefs. Visit the Carter G. Phillips Center for Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy for more information. For a list of law firms providing assistance please contact Craig Crawford, Attorney Advisor, at 202-502-1338 or craig_crawford@ao.uscourts.gov.