The Federal Public Defender Office for the U.S. District of Massachusetts opened in Boston in 1980. Our branch office for the U.S. District of New Hampshire opened in Concord in 1995. Our branch office for the U.S. District of Rhode Island opened in Providence in 2003.
We represent individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney in federal criminal cases and related matters. We also provide training and education to attorneys who are on the Criminal Justice Act panels in our districts. We are assigned to cases by the U.S. District Courts and by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Requests for counsel should be made directly to the appropriate court.
Our website intends to provide information regarding federal criminal practice to members of the Criminal Justice Act panels, other criminal defense attorneys practicing in federal court, and interested members of the public. Some portions of the website are accessible only to criminal defense attorneys, who can register for an account on the For CJA page.