Federal Defenders of Montana
Field Placement
Academic Year
Faculty Supervisor
Supervising Attorneys
Joslyn Hunt, John Rhodes, Andy Nelson
Prerequisite
Professional Responsibility, Trial Practice
Pre-Requisite or Co-Requisite
Criminal Procedure - Investigative, Criminal Procedure - Adjudicative
Recommended
Appellate Advocacy
Areas of Emphases
Federal criminal law; appellate litigation; legal research and writing; access to justice
Sample Projects
- Investigate, research and draft sentence mitigation arguments
- Write Ninth Circuit appeal and petition for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court
- Prepare for trial by interviewing witnesses, reviewing discovery, researching legal issues, drafting jury instructions
- Attend trial
- Prepare clients for initial court appearances and meet with clients detained in the Missoula County Detention Center
General Information
The mission of the Federal Defenders of Montana is to ensure that the right to counsel guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment, the Criminal Justice Act (Title 18 U.S.C. § 3006A), and other congressional mandates are enforced on behalf of those who cannot afford to retain counsel or obtain criminal defense services. In fulfilling its mission, the Federal Defender program helps to (1) maintain public confidence in the nation's commitment to equal justice under law and (2) ensure the successful operation of the constitutionally-based adversarial system of justice by which both federal criminal laws and federally guaranteed rights are enforced.
Students in this field placement assist the Federal Defenders in providing aggressive and effective legal representation to individuals accused of federal offenses, under investigation for federal criminal violations, or appealing a federal conviction or sentence, as well as providing representation to federal habeas corpus litigants (including those under a sentence of death). Students work directly with clients, aid with defense investigations, participate in proceedings in the United States District Court (to the extent permitted by the client, the Court and the attorney supervisor), and research trial and appellate issues, write court memoranda in support of pretrial motions, draft briefs to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and draft writs and petitions to the United States Supreme Court.