The Office of the State Appellate Defender represents indigent citizens
in criminal appeals. The Illinois Appellate Defender office is particularly distinguished.
The office was the first statewide appellate defender program established in the United States,
and has won the Clara Shortridge Foltz Award from the American Bar Association for outstanding
achievements in providing criminal defense services.
In this course, attorneys from the Fourth District Office of the State Appellate Defender
supervise law students preparing criminal appeals for clients of the office. Each student
receives a 300- to 700-page transcript in a felony jury trial and is primarily responsible
for preparing an appellate brief in the case. The student's work includes drafting the
Statement of Facts for the brief, as well as researching and drafting the Argument section of the brief.
Each student is partnered with an Assistant Defender, who closely monitors case
development and works directly with the student in constructing arguments and preparing
the final draft of the brief. Participating students also have the opportunity to come to
Springfield to observe oral arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court and work with their
case supervisors at the Appellate Defenders Office.
In addition to typical jury trial cases, students have had the opportunity to work
on felony jury trial issues, challenges to the constitutionality of statutes, and
significant Fourth and Fifth Amendment issues. The agency has argued hundreds of cases
before the Illinois Supreme Court - including four cases initially prepared by students —
and over 20 cases before the United States Supreme Court.
The State Appellate Defender currently has seven offices in Illinois employing
approximately 225 attorneys. In addition to hands-on practice, this seminar has served
as a valuable recruiting resource for graduates interested in Appellate Defense work.
Daniel D. Yuhas
Adjunct Professor and Deputy Defender of Fourth District Office of the State Appellate Defender
