Professional Resources

The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is committed to providing and promoting the highest quality legal representation to indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty in the District of Columbia. To advance that mission, below are a number of resources designed to assist Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel attorneys and investigators, and other interested advocates, in meeting our collective goal of providing the best representation possible.

Calendar of Events Stay abreast of PDS training and other events designed for its clients and local justice system practitioners.

Criminal Law Blog Visit the blog to learn about new criminal case law (and some case law involving ancillary issues of relevance to our clients) from the D.C. Court of Appeals.

FAQs for CJA Attorneys and Investigators Useful information for local justice system practitioners.

CJADC.ORG—CJA Attorney and Investigator Resource The website is the portal through which CJA panel attorneys can sign up for case pick-up dates in addition to other services.

PDS Training Programs PDS offers a variety of training opportunities directed toward members of the CJA panels currently practicing in the District of Columbia. Find the right training opportunity for you!

Publications & Legal Resources A plethora of resources including PDS’s CPI practice manual, Adult and Juvenile Community and Confinement Access Guides, forensic educational materials, and other resources.

Multimedia Training Resources Video and audio training resources for CJA panel attorneys