A non-profit law firm providing quality legal representation and supporting the appellate defense community in the fight for justice.

Featured Resources

Appellate Practice Manual

ADI’s treatise on appellate procedure for appointed attorneys. 

Forms & Samples

Commonly used forms tailored to Fourth District practice.

Fourth District Practice

A summary of Fourth Appellate District practices, policies, and procedures.

Fourth District Filing & Service

Summary of filing requirements for briefs and other documents in non-capital criminal and juvenile cases in California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Statewide Claims Manual

California’s line by line instructions for filing compensation claims.

Claims Portal

ADI’s claims portal for appointed counsel to submit, review and check the status of claims.

ADI strives to provide quality resources to facilitate excellent indigent representation in California appeals.

Access to MCLE materials and confidential legal resources is contingent on an active membership with one of the project panels.

home office with natural light and house plants

How to Become a Panel Attorney

ADI regularly accepts applications for both our criminal and dependency panels. We value quality applicants who have a demonstrated dedication to indigent defense work, strong writing skills, and a willingness to be a zealous advocate for clients.

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News

  • Staff Changes
  • ADI & Court Holiday Closures
  • JCC Branch Holidays & 1099 cut-offs
  • MCLE Compliance Extensions
  • ADI Website Updates
  • MCLE Opportunities

Events

The Power of Story

January 28, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Hybrid

Presenter: Vincent Brunkow, Chief Appellate Attorney, Federal Defenders on San Diego, Inc.

Hosted at ADI

Philosophy, science, and research all support the use of story-based narratives to most effectively communicate with others. The goal of an appellate brief is to persuade judges to rule in favor of our client. But appellate briefs too often overlook storytelling techniques. This hybrid training will discuss the structure and components of good storytelling to empower participants to tell winning stories in their cases.

1.0 hour of general MCLE credit is offered for this training. 

About ADI

Appellate Defenders, Inc., is a non-profit law firm administering the appointed counsel system for the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District.

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