Every summer, the Pauli Murray Diversity Leadership Initiative brings talented, mission-driven law students into the work of public defense. This year, we are proud to welcome Nnamdi Nnajiofor and Mell Then as our 2026 fellows. Nnamdi Nnajiofor grew up in Hamilton, New Jersey, and has spent the years since building toward a career in public defense with real intention. He studied political science at Rutgers University, earned a master's in public administration from George Washington...

April is Second Chance Month—and in Maryland, implementation of the Second Look Act is now actively underway, opening a critical new phase of sentence review and representation. The Association for the Public Defender of Maryland in partnership with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, is meeting this moment by ensuring eligible individuals have access to counsel as they pursue sentence reconsideration and that counsel has the support and resources they need for that representation to...

May 31 – June 2, 2026 Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina The Maryland Justice 4All Annual Conference , hosted by the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD), returns this spring for three days of learning, collaboration, and community. Designed for the full defense team, the conference features informative and practical programming with a focus on AI and its impact on criminal defense. Programming is designed for: Attorneys Social workers Paralegals Core staff Each...