Our History

The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey was created in 1973 by the Criminal Justice Act of 1964 (18 U.S.C. sec. 3006A). In accordance with that law, a federal district court (the trial courts of the federal judicial system) 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 New Jersey represents indigent defendants before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Representation includes counsel, investigative, expert, and other services necessary for an adequate defense.

The Office includes the Federal Public Defender, Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Research and Writing Specialists, Investigators, and administrative staff. They handle caseloads composed of federal misdemeanors, felonies, parole and probation violations, habeas corpus, grand jury representation, direct appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and petitions for a writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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

Our Staff

Federal Public Defender
Richard Coughlin

 

First Assistant Federal Public Defender                              Chester Keller    Camden Division Assistant Federal Public Defenders Christopher O'Malley Lori M. Koch Lisa Evans Lewis Maggie Moy Tom Young Research & Writing Attorney Julie A. McGrain National Sentencing Resource Counsel Anne E. Blanchard Investigators O. Nieves D. Thomas	Third Level Supervisory Assistant John Yauch Administrative Officer Gloria Harris Newark Division Assistant Federal Public Defenders Donald J. McCauley Kevin F. Carlucci Lorraine Gauli-Ruffo David Holman K. Anthony Thomas Lisa Mack Peter Carter Linda Foster Candace Hom Patrick McMahon Research & Writing Attorneys Louise Arkel Karina Fuentes Investigators W. Sierra C. Flanagan B. Grade C. Gillen	Chief Investigator Kevin Murphy     Trenton Division Assistant Federal Public Defenders David E. Schafer, Senior Litigator Brian P. Reilly Lisa Van Hoeck Andrea Bergman Research & Writing Attorney Thomas Belsky Investigators T. Moore G. Garcia Computer Systems Administrator David C. Shlegle