The Defense
Never Rests

I heard the word unprecedented more in 2020 than I have heard in my entire life.
It was named the People's Choice 2020 word of the year by dictionary.com. This single word describes so much of what we experienced last year: an unprecedented pandemic, unprecedented lockdown, and unprecedented loss. Being a public defender is a difficult role under normal circumstances. Still, the hardships for our clients created by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent hopelessness experienced by all who are dedicated to this work were almost unbearable at times. Our team at the Nashville Defender's office responded to these challenges with resilience.

Public Defenders on the Frontlines

4 Part COVID19 Series

The Covid19 pandemic has fundamentally changed nearly every aspect of American life since the first confirmed case was reported in the United States in March 2020. In Davidson County and across the country alike, the court system has not been immune to Covid-19’s deadly and chaotic disruption. This is the first in a 4-part series outlining how the Nashville Defenders and their clients navigated the criminal legal system during the COVID 19 pandemic. This series will also look ahead to issues that will persist after the global pandemic has subsided, like how technology impacts the attorney/client relationship and how post pandemic delay affect the constitutional right to a speedy trial.

Repairing Futures:
Client Services Mitigation Team

The mission of the Nashville Defender’s office includes advocacy and providing social services resources expertise. Because no one should be defined by the mistakes they make, we work with our clients to navigate the legal system with the goal of restoration upon release. Seeking Justice means seeking second chances. We strive daily to show that our clients are more than a case number, they are people-their stories are important and they deserve humanity.