A Commitment To Excellence

A Passion For Justice

The Board of Directors

of

Appellate Defenders, Inc. & Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. 

Present

THE 2025 ANNUAL DEFENDER DINNER

 

Date: Friday, April 25, 2025

Time: 5:00pm 

Location: The Westin Gaslamp Quarter

CONANT-CLEARY AWARD

This award is named in honor of Stan Conant and John Cleary. Stan Conant was the founding Director of the Defenders Program in San Diego. He was widely respected as an advocate and tried many death penalty cases. Under his direction, that office successfully established itself in the community and paved the way for the establishment of the Office of the Public Defender in the mid-1980’s. John J. Cleary was the first Executive Director of Federal Defenders from 1971 to 1983. It was during this time, that Federal Defenders developed into a distinguished and highly respected office, where attorneys were trained extensively in federal law and trial skills, and expected to aggressively represent clients from trial and through appeal.

Past Recepients of the CONANT-CLEARY AWARD:

PAUL BELL AWARD

The Paul Bell Award is presented in honor of excellence in representation of the indigent accused on appeal. The Award is given annually by the Board of Directors of Appellate Defenders and Federal Defenders in memory of Paul Bell, beloved Assistant Director of Appellate Defenders until his untimely passing in July 1997.

Our

MISSION STATEMENT

Members of the Federal Defenders team share a commitment to excellence and a passion for justice in representing indigent people accused of myriad federal criminal offenses. We combine hard work, constant training and intense dedication in the defense of each of our clients.