The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) has two statutory mandates: representing indigent people on death row in their direct appeals before the California Supreme Court and enhancing the quality and capacity of public defense systems across California. Despite the current execution moratorium, California maintains the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere. To advance the development of the law and improve conditions for our direct representation of indigent people on death row, OSPD also engages in select non-capital appellate representation and amicus work in courts across California.
OSPD provides cutting-edge legal services to indigent people convicted of non-capital and capital offenses who appeal their convictions to the California Courts of Appeal and Supreme Court. We are looking to train the next generation of appellate defenders on everything from capital case procedure to how to litigate the Racial Justice Act.
As a Law Student Summer Intern with the OSPD Appellate Division, you will become a stronger writer and sharper legal researcher. You will come away with an understanding of what a career in appellate criminal defense entails and a writing sample that will help you open doors. Most importantly, you will be making a difference in the lives of people who need your help.