A non-profit law firm providing quality legal representation and supporting the appellate defense community in the fight for justice.

Featured Resources

Appellate Practice Manual

ADI’s treatise on appellate procedure for appointed attorneys. 

Forms & Samples

Commonly used forms tailored to Fourth District practice.

Fourth District Practice

A summary of Fourth Appellate District practices, policies, and procedures.

Fourth District Filing & Service

Summary of filing requirements for briefs and other documents in non-capital criminal and juvenile cases in California Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Statewide Claims Manual

California’s line by line instructions for filing compensation claims.

Claims Portal

ADI’s claims portal for appointed counsel to submit, review and check the status of claims.

ADI strives to provide quality resources to facilitate excellent indigent representation in California appeals.

Access to MCLE materials and confidential legal resources is contingent on an active membership with one of the project panels.

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How to Become a Panel Attorney

ADI regularly accepts applications for both our criminal and dependency panels. We value quality applicants who have a demonstrated dedication to indigent defense work, strong writing skills, and a willingness to be a zealous advocate for clients.

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News

  • ADI and Court Holiday Closures
  • New Electronic Transcript Policy
  • Claims Compensation Guideline Increases
  • Travel Reimbursement Increases
  • Save the Date – The Annual Defender Dinner
  • MCLE Opportunities
  • Website Updates

Events

CDCR Insights: Classification, Programming, Re-sentencing – A Correctional Counselor’s Perspective

April 9, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Remote

CDCR Counselor Clarence Hogan will provide information on the programming/jobs available at a prison, the new California Model, how an incarcerated person is classified and assigned to a prison, the process for determining which incarcerated person merits resentencing letters, and prison mail regulations, tablet usage, and visiting.

About ADI

Appellate Defenders, Inc., is a non-profit law firm administering the appointed counsel system for the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District.

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