Federal Public Defender's Office

District of Delaware

    Edson A. Bostic, Federal Public Defender

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Welcome to the Federal Defender's Office for the District of Delaware.  Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act (CJA), 18 U.S.C. §3006A, our office represents indigent defendants before the United States District Court of Delaware, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. 

Our mission is to provide high quality legal representation for our clients, and our attorneys vigorously defend individuals accused of a variety of federal offenses.  We are committed to ensuring that the right to counsel, which is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment and the CJA, is enforced on behalf of individuals that cannot afford counsel.

We also serve as a resource for the District of Delaware's CJA Panel Attorneys and local criminal defense bar by staying on the forefront of important changes affecting the federal criminal justice system, as well as issues that affect our clients' successful defense.     

Please visit our New Blog!

After careful thought and consideration, our office has decided to abandon publishing "Best Defense," our quarterly newsletter, and to enter the blogging fray. Although some of you may prefer to receive a quarterly newsletter, we believe that a blog allows us to provide our CJA attorneys with instant news and updates regarding the federal criminal justice system.

This blog will be updated weekly (or daily, depending on breaking news) with important federal criminal law news, District of Delaware and Supreme Court case summaries** or other information that relates to the defense of indigent defendants. This blog does not provide commentary or opinions. Instead, it exists to serve as an instant resource on changes affecting our practice.

We will, however, provide a monthly summary of news and information that we cover on this website for those of you that prefer the newsletter format. This summary will be available on our website at the end of each month.

** Please continue to visit the Third Circuit Blog for weekly summaries of precedential opinions issued by the Third Circuit. For your convenience, we will link to the Third Circuit Blog.

Panel Attorney Programs

June 12-14, 2008 ●

Scottsdale, Arizona

Winning Strategies offers new and experienced panel attorneys the opportunity to attend presentations on criminal defense topics of interest in both large and small group settings. The presentations focus on the nuts and bolts of federal criminal practice including the sentencing guidelines, sentencing mitigation, and the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

Sessions focusing on the impact of cases such as Rita, Booker and Crawford, and Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment issues are also included. In addition, participants can expect presentations on trial skills such as cross examination, defending gang cases and attacking wiretap evidence. Also included are presentations on the use of technology in the courtroom and an explanation of CJA guidelines and procedures.

Please visit the Office of Defender Services at www.fd.org. to register.

Financial Assistance For Trial Skills Training

The Training Branch is offering financial assistance to eligible CJA Panel Attorneys who would like to enroll in one of the following criminal defense trial advocacy programs: National Defender Training Project (2008 Public Defender Trial Advocacy Program) National Criminal Defense College (multiple programs offered) Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy (Federal Criminal Defense Academy 2008) Western Trial Advocacy Institute

To apply for financial assistance, please complete the Financial Assistance Request Form and fax it to the attention of Bob Burke at (202) 502-2911. Please submit your request two weeks in advance of the registration deadline for the program you wish to attend. If you would like to apply for financial assistance to attend a trial advocacy program offered by an organization other than one of those listed above, please submit a detailed description of the program along with your application. We will approve only those programs that meet our educational standards.  Contact Bob Burke.