Who We Are
The Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) is the Minnesota Chapter of the preeminent organization in the United States advancing the mission of the nation's criminal defense lawyers to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or other misconduct. A professional bar association founded in 1958, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is more than 10,400 direct members -- and 80 state and local affiliate organizations with another 28,000 members -- include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, active U.S. military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness within America's criminal justice system.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) is to preserve the adversary system of justice; to maintain and foster independent and able criminal defense lawyers; to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime; to protect individual rights; and to improve criminal law, its practice and procedures.

Objectives and Purposes
MACDL is formed exclusively for charitable, scientific and educational purposes including, without limitation, the following purposes:

     a. To promote study and research in the filed of criminal defense law;

     b. To advance the knowledge of law in the field of criminal defense by lecture, seminars and publications;

     c. To promote the proper administration of criminal justice;

     d. To foster, maintain, and encourage the integrity, independence, and expertise of the defense lawyer in criminal cases;

     e. To hold periodic meetings of the criminal defense bar.

MACDL believes that continued recognition and adherence to the Bill of Rights by the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive Branches of government are necessary to sustain the quality of the American system of justice.

Join MACDL
Find out more about joining MACDL today.