Access resources related to federal death penalty litigation and capital habeas assistance.
Under the new Administration, cases are being reevaluated for the federal death penalty. If you receive notice that your case is being reevaluated for the federal death penalty, please reach out to Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel's Theresa Duncan, Anthony Haughton, Richard Jasper or Matthew Rubenstein. Find full contact information at the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel Project contact list.
The Capital Defense Network's primary purpose is to assist lawyers representing individuals in federal death penalty proceedings and federal habeas corpus proceedings dealing with the death penalty. A list of upcoming seminars, in addition to other valuable resources, may be found at the Defender Services Office's capital website, www.capdefnet.org.
The Death Penalty Information Center is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the media, policymakers, and the general public with data and analysis on issues concerning capital punishment and the people it affects. DPIC does not take a position on the death penalty itself but is critical of problems in its application.
The Defender Services Office, (DSO), funds a number of major death penalty training events, both federal death penalty trial programs and federal capital habeas corpus seminars. These trainings include: 1) the Federal Death Penalty Trial Strategy Session, 2) the National Habeas Seminar, and 3) the Capital Mitigation Skills Workshop. The substantive planning of these events is done by two sets of contractors, the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel and the Habeas Assistance and Training counsel. Administrative and logistical support are provided by DSO Training Division. For questions regarding these trainings contact fdorg_help@ao.uscourts.gov.
The Federal Capital Habeas Project ("the Project”) was created in early 2006 by the Defender Services Office. The Project was established to assist federal courts with appointment of counsel in federal death penalty habeas proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and aims to ensure that all individuals sentenced to death in federal court who have completed their direct appeals receive post-conviction representation consistent with the highest standards of the legal profession. Project staff offer assistance and training to capital § 2255 counsel nationwide in what remains a relatively new area of law and litigation. The Project also monitors case proceedings and legal developments around the country, maintains current data on the composition of the federal death row and provides direct representation in a limited number of cases. Access the Federal Capital Habeas Project's website.
The Federal Capital Trial Project (or “Trial Project”) of the Defender Services Office of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts is comprised of the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel project (“FDPRC”) and the Capital Resource Counsel project (“CRC”). The Trial Project is staffed by experienced federal capital litigators who work in close coordination to provide consultation, training, and assistance to counsel and courts to improve the quality of representation and the cost-effectiveness of defense services in federal capital prosecution cases. Access the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel website.
Under the new Administration, hundreds of cases are being reevaluated for the federal death penalty. If you receive notice that your case is being reevaluated for the federal death penalty, please reach out to Theresa Duncan, Anthony Haughton, Richard Jasper or Matthew Rubenstein. Find full contact information at the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel Project contact list.
The Federal Death Penalty Unit (FDPU) is a specialized unit of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Nevada. The FDPU represents indigent defendants who are charged with federal criminal offenses that can result in punishment by death. It is comprised of attorneys and other legal professionals who have substantial experience in capital cases. The FDPU provides comprehensive representation, including investigation, mitigation, paralegal, and administrative support. The FDPU is available to accept appointments in federal districts throughout the United States. Depending on the needs of the defendant and the district, the FDPU can provide sole representation or can work in collaboration with local counsel (including counsel with another defender office or counsel appointed under the Criminal Justice Act).
For additional information regarding the Federal Death Penalty Unit, please contact FDPU Chief, Kimberly Sharkey:
Kimberly Sharkey (she/her)
Chief, Federal Death Penalty Unit
District of Nevada – Federal Public Defender Office
411 East Bonneville Avenue, Suite 250
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
(702) 388-6577, office
(702) 388-6261, fax
Kimberly_Sharkey@fd.org.