It is a great honor to serve as this year’s President of GACDL. GACDL has always been an integral part of my legal career. When I began practicing law as a public defender in Fulton County, GACDL was the only real source for training and seminars; these seminars served as my introduction to the GACDL community and provided the opportunity to meet and form alliances and friendships with lawyers throughout the state. When I challenged the ethically indefensible caseload that I was being required to accept as a courtroom public defender, it was GACDL’s Attorney’s Strike Force that assisted me, as did many GACDL members.
Since entering private practice in 1991, GACDL has continued to be my source for excellent seminars and resources for vigorously defending persons accused of crimes. GACDL has continued to be the main conduit for maintaining contacts throughout the criminal defense bar, and meeting kindred spirits who are fighting the good – but too often – lonely fight for justice in the current legal environment. When I’m in trial and need advice, it is always a fellow GACDL member to whom I turn.
During my year as our President, we will continue to fight for fair legislation to protect the rights of our clients and anyone charged with a crime in Georgia. We will vigorously speak out to ensure that the government makes good on its promise to provide quality representation for indigent defendants throughout the State, including those charged with capital offenses.
GACDL will continue to provide a wide range of services to our 1,800 members, including:
 | the highest quality CLE legal seminars |
| the Attorney’s Strike Force which provides assistance to any of our members facing contempt or other sanctions for standing up for their clients |
| “What’s the Decision,” a monthly publication containing the newest caselaw |
| an on-line Brief and Motions bank |
| a member listserv which provides networking resources and suggestions on techniques and legal authority to use for our clients, |
| The Bill Daniel Trial Advocacy Program which provides intensive training for a group of new criminal practitioners each year, |
| The Al Horn Scholarship program, which provides scholarship support for our members to attend a two-week trial skills program at the National Criminal Defense College each summer. |
| The Debra Blum Scholarship Fund which provides for training on mental health legal issues. |
In looking at the year ahead, we as a defense bar face numerous difficult challenges including inadequate funding for indigent defense, efforts to have non-unanimous jury verdicts in death penalty cases, and legislative attacks on the statewide public defender program. Each of these initiatives negatively impacts the ability to have procedures and trials that are fundamentally fair. Our job is to push back and fight for justice. I intend to see that GACDL stays at the forefront of these important battles, and continues to serve all our members as they seek justice for their clients in every corner of Georgia.
Lynne Borsuk, President
