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Non-profit

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Website:

www.nacdl.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

74-1916260
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(6)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $6,237,627
Expenses: $6,693,345
Assets: $8,388,645
Type:

Business League
Founded:

1958
Executive Director:

Lisa Monet Wayne
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $12,521,644
Expenses: $11,514,841
Assets: $14,158,198

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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is a voluntary bar association dedicated to advancing the criminal defense legal profession. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it has more than 10,000 direct members in 28 countries and 90 affiliated state, local, and international criminal defense organizations comprising about 40,000 members. 1 2

Background

The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers was founded in 1958. In 2001, it established a fundraising arm, the NACDL Foundation, which remained largely dormant until 2006 when, under the leadership of its former executive director Norman Reimer, it raised $30 million over a 15-year period. 3 4

This expansion of fundraising activities made possible a radical increase of public policy advocacy, resource support to the profession, and pro bono legal that which has continued under Reimer’s successors. 5

Activities

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers serves as a point of engagement for attorneys wishing to participate in pro bono work; educates the public about legal issues and legal rights; assists members to remain current on changing laws and trends in their profession; and advocates for changes to laws. 6 7

To enable members to remain current and advance in their profession, it makes available extensive publications and study materials. Members receive 10 monthly issues of its journal, The Champion Magazine, Daily Criminal Justice briefings, monthly E-news, and access to CLE (Continuing Legal Education) courses. It conducts research and produces reports and white papers on important judicial issues. It regularly submits amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) briefs in support of litigants in cases important to the criminal justice system. 8

Its judicial reform efforts have focused on “overcriminalization, mass incarceration, systemic racial and ethnic disparity, abusive pre-trial detention practices, discovery abuse, collateral consequences, and inadequate support for public defense.” 9 For example, it established a center to equip attorneys to combat digital surveillance by government and it recruited, trained and supported more than 3,000 pro bono attorneys “to help people in prison apply for clemency” including those serving life sentences. 10 Its “Full Disclosure Project” offers an open source database which presents information on individual police officers including internal affairs records and civil lawsuits. 11 12

Nellie King, NACDL’s president, has asserted that NACDL is at “a critical juncture in the fight against systemic racism, police misconduct, overreach, and brutality, mass incarceration, overcriminalization, woefully underfunded public defense offices, sentencings which penalize the constitutional right to a jury trial, and now, the prosecution of women who choose to exercise their reproductive rights, as well as those that aid in those personal decisions.” 13

Finances

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Foundation provides NACDL with selected fundraising and administrative services. In 2022, it transferred $2,783,377 in grants to NACDL. In addition, NACDL directly received donations and grants on its own behalf, including federally assisted grant programs as well as $3,523,169 in program revenue such as membership dues, events and product sales for a total revenue of $8,733,455. NACDL holds investments such as money market funds, stock and bonds in the amount of $9,377,772 as well. 14

People

Lisa Monet Wayne is the executive director of NACDL. She is a faculty member at the Trial Practice Institute, Harvard Law School, the National Criminal Defense College, and Cardoza Law School. She serves on the Colorado Supreme Court Standing Committee on Ethics and the Colorado Sentencing Reform Task Force. Wayne is a law graduate of Pepperdine University Law School, and earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado. She was a Colorado State Public Defender for 13 years. 15 16

References

  1. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/
  2. “NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers on Lawyer Legion.” Accessed July 26, 2023. https://www.lawyerlegion.com/associations/criminal-defense/national-nacdl
  3. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “NACDL – News Release ~ 06/07/2021.” Accessed July 27, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/newsrelease/060721NormanLReimerSteppingDown
  4. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “Audited Financial Statements for the period ending September 30, 2022.” Accessed July 26, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/24460620221
  5. Fair Trials. “Fair Trials Appoints Norman L Reimer as New Chief Executive,” September 22, 2021. Accessed July 27, 2023. https://www.fairtrials.org/articles/news/fair-trials-appoints-norman-l-reimer-new-chief-executive/
  6. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/
  7. Journal, A. B. A. “The Case for Bar Associations: Why They Matter.” ABA Journal. Accessed July 28, 2023. https://www.abajournal.com/voice/article/the-case-for-bar-associations
  8. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/
  9. The Florida Bar. “Florida’s Nellie King Installed as President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” Accessed July 29, 2023. https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/floridas-nellie-king-installed-as-president-of-the-national-association-of-criminal-defense-lawyers/
  10. “Nellie L. King on Her Plans at the Helm of NACDL | Attorney at Law Magazine,” August 29, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2023. https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/stories/association-interview/nellie-l-king-takes-the-helm-at-ncadl
  11. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “Audited Financial Statements for the period ending September 30, 2022.” Accessed July 26, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/24460620221
  12. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “NACDL – News Release ~ 08/15/2022.” Accessed July 29, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/newsrelease/NellieKingNACDLPresident
  13. “Nellie L. King on Her Plans at the Helm of NACDL | Attorney at Law Magazine,” August 29, 2022. Accessed July 29, 2023. https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/stories/association-interview/nellie-l-king-takes-the-helm-at-ncadl
  14. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “Audited Financial Statements for the period ending September 30, 2022.” Accessed July 26, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/24460620221
  15. NACDL – National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. “National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.nacdl.org/
  16. LinkedIn. Lisa M. Wayne. Accessed July 30, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-m-wayne-6797256
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: September - August
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1977

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Sep Form 990 $6,237,627 $6,693,345 $8,388,645 $3,827,781 Y $4,152,326 $1,412,114 $180,572 $378,058
    2019 Sep Form 990 $7,187,316 $7,003,428 $8,889,352 $4,014,928 Y $3,837,731 $2,518,256 $226,734 $376,446 PDF
    2018 Sep Form 990 $6,239,607 $6,865,259 $9,024,760 $4,191,665 Y $576,294 $5,029,511 $206,775 $446,746 PDF
    2017 Sep Form 990 $6,540,092 $6,514,615 $8,873,833 $3,647,548 Y $706,167 $5,090,623 $174,943 $518,384 PDF
    2016 Sep Form 990 $7,661,403 $7,151,507 $8,268,996 $3,204,714 Y $697,054 $6,497,595 $155,288 $560,012 PDF
    2015 Sep Form 990 $6,359,933 $6,555,920 $7,713,097 $3,515,817 Y $696,135 $5,285,582 $139,931 $553,195 PDF
    2014 Sep Form 990 $6,842,002 $6,231,557 $7,912,119 $3,347,091 Y $601,649 $5,956,427 $144,624 $564,516 PDF
    2013 Sep Form 990 $5,963,751 $5,803,416 $7,013,205 $3,341,606 Y $465,527 $4,854,562 $138,443 $519,172 PDF
    2012 Sep Form 990 $5,219,063 $5,867,099 $6,805,990 $3,397,326 Y $510,440 $4,290,161 $148,754 $519,331 PDF
    2011 Sep Form 990 $5,777,974 $5,616,087 $6,562,319 $3,103,884 Y $233,687 $5,008,371 $138,058 $459,087 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

    1660 L NW12 FLOOR
    Washington, DC 20036-5603