The Office of the Federal Public Defender 
Northern District of New York

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The Office of the Federal Defender for the Northern District of New York is authorized under Title 18 U.S.C. § 3006A, the Criminal Justice Act, to provide legal representation to persons financially unable to retain counsel in federal criminal and related proceedings. Representation includes counsel and investigative, expert and other services.

Members of the Federal Defender’s Office share a commitment to excellence and a passion for justice in representing indigent people accused of all types of federal criminal offenses. We provide quality legal representation and advice to individuals financially unable to employ counsel in federal criminal cases and related matters in the federal courts. We handle a wide range of cases including felonies, misdemeanors, appeals and non-capital habeas matters. We are equally committed to providing training and education to all criminal justice act panel attorneys so they too can maintain a standard of excellence in the representation of indigent clients in federal court. Our philosophy is to combine hard work, constant training and intense dedication in the defense of all indigent clients.


"The zealous defense attorney is the last bastion of liberty - the final barrier between an overreaching government and its citizens. The job of the defense attorney is to challenge the government; to make those in power justify their conduct in relation to the powerless; to articulate and defend the right of those who lack the ability or resources to defend themselves."

Alan Dershowitz, The Best Defense (1982)
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