Judy Clarke Fellowship Program
Center for Capital Litigation
Columbia, SC
The center for Capital Litigation (formerly the Post Conviction Defender Organization of South Carolina (1995-96) and the South Carolina Death Penalty Resource Center (1988-1995) is a private 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation providing direct representation and consultation to indigent death-sentenced inmates primarily in the Sate of South Carolina. The CCL was established in 1988 in order to ensure adequate post-conviction representation of death-sentenced inmates and, since it's inception, the CCL has provided direct representation or been a consultant in an overwhelming majority of South Carolina capital cases which have progressed beyond the direct appeal. At present, the CCL represents twenty-five death-sentenced inmates in South Carolina, and one in Kansas (military). In addition, the CCL serves in a consulting capacity in a number of other capital post-conviction cases in South Carolina.
The CCL began the Fellowship Program in September 1996 to fund recent law school graduates from outside the State of South Carolina for a one-year period. The Fellowship is maintained in honor of Judy Clarke, the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Washington & Idaho and the President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 1995, Ms. Clarke took an unpaid leave of absence from her position as Federal Public Defender in order to represent Susan Smith, a capital defendant, in South Carolina. She paid her own travel and living expenses and selflessly donated all of her fees for the representation of Susan Smith to the CCL.
The CCL is seeking a 3L or a great law school graduate completing a clerkship or an LL.M who is willing to take on the challenge of representing indigent death-sentenced inmates in the complex (and sometimes hostile) arenas of capital state post-conviction and federal habeas corpus proceedings. Fellows will be employed as staff attorneys. The job entails legal research, drafting pleadings, interviewing clients and witnesses and many other tasks necessary to provide effective representation in capital collateral proceedings. Applications should include a statement of interest, resume, writing sample, and reference list, and should be submitted to:
Teresa L. Norris
Center for Capital Litigation
P. O. Box 11311
Columbia, S.C. 29211
DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 15, 1998
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)