Legal Services

PDS and private attorneys appointed by the District of Columbia courts pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) provide constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent people facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia. PDS handles a majority of the most difficult, complicated criminal cases, while CJA attorneys handle the majority of the less serious felony, misdemeanor, and regulatory offenses.

PDS is a model program applying a holistic approach to representation and using both general litigation skills and specialty practices to provide complete, quality representation in its complex cases. On a day-to-day basis, PDS attorneys provide advice and training to each other, and they often form small teams to handle particularly complex cases.

Trial Division
Appellate Division
Special Litigation Division
Parole Division
Mental Health Division
Civil Legal Services Division
Community Defender Division