FPD
Law & Legal abbreviation · Court
| Stands for | Federal public defender |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
FPD stands for Federal public defender, a court abbreviation.
Federal defender office, or a lawyer in one, that represents people charged with federal crimes who cannot afford counsel. Authorized under the Criminal Justice Act, FPD offices serve most federal districts and are supplemented by private panel attorneys paid hourly by the courts.
Example: An attorney from the FPD was appointed after the magistrate judge reviewed the financial affidavit.
Usage notes
Each Federal Public Defender is appointed by the court of appeals for a four-year term. Some districts instead have a Community Defender Organization, a nonprofit funded by grants. Staff lawyers are assistant federal public defenders (AFPDs). Funding comes from the judiciary's budget, and shortfalls have periodically delayed payments to panel attorneys.
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This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.