FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER

NORTHERN DIVISION

James Wyda, Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland

SOUTHERN DIVISION

The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland was created in 1974 by the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (18 U.S.C., sec. 3006A). In accordance with that law, a federal district court may establish a defender organization if at least two hundred persons in the district annually require the appointment of counsel.

The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland represents indigent defendants before the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. Representation includes counsel and investigative, expert and other services necessary for an adequate defense.

Within the Office are the Federal Public Defender, the Deputy Federal Public Defender, and staff attorneys known as Assistant Federal Public Defenders. They handle caseloads involving federal misdemeanors, felonies, parole and probation violations, writs of habeas corpus, grand jury representation, direct appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and petitions for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland is appointed to a four-year term by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, after consideration of recommendations made by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The Federal Public Defender appoints as many attorneys as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit approves and other personnel as approved by the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

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