JUSTICE ~ COMPASSION ~ ADVOCACY

A better Idaho where the legal system treats each person with fairness and dignity.

Our Commitment to You

The Office of the State Appellate Public Defender (SAPD) is dedicated to providing high-quality, client-centered representation. Its attorneys are among the most experienced and highly skilled appellate and capital practitioners in Idaho. They work tirelessly to protect their clients’ rights and ensure fair outcomes. The SAPD recognizes and celebrates the humanity of each client by treating them with dignity and respect while giving them a voice in a legal system that can otherwise make them feel unheard and powerless

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All Things SAPD

The SAPD is comprised of two units: a Capital Litigation Unit and an Appellate Unit. The Capital Litigation Unit handles cases after death sentences are imposed. In those cases, the SAPD represents its clients in post-conviction proceedings in the district courts, and in consolidated direct/post-conviction appeals to the Idaho Supreme Court.

The Appellate Unit handles non-capital appeals. These include direct appeals in juvenile, misdemeanor, and non-capital felony cases, as well as post-conviction and habeas corpus appeals. Those appeals are heard by the Idaho Court of Appeals and/or the Idaho Supreme Court.

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Explore a Career in Public Service

The SAPD supports its amazing employees by fostering a sense of purpose, encouraging professional growth, and offering a collegial and supportive work environment.

Join the Office of the State Appellate Public Defender for a deeply meaningful career that offers competitive salaries, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, lifetime retirement benefits, professional growth, and work-life balance. Work alongside the most experienced and highly skilled appellate attorneys and support staff in Idaho.