The Capital Defense Network (CDN) is a community of lawyers, a team of consulting
experts, and an online Web resource dedicated to assisting counsel representing clients in federal capital proceedings.
Our goal is to provide the collective knowledge of the national capital defense bar to defense lawyers in federal capital proceedings and
to post conviction counsel representing state death-sentenced prisoners. CDN provides support to attorneys involved in federal capital proceedings through the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel
(FDPRC). Habeas Counsel receives guidance from the Habeas Assistance and Training Counsel (HAT).
Through CDN’s website, both
FDPRC and HAT provide information about current events, case developments, upcoming training programs, and related death penalty resources on the World Wide Web. In addition, we provide sample motions and briefs, case summaries, and guides to critical legal issues.
Most of the site is available to the public. Counsel engaged in capital litigation are eligible for additional information, training, and support.
The overall purpose of the website is to
develop better prepared, highly trained advocates to more effectively provide
"the guiding hand of counsel" to those who face the death
penalty.
