Providing Access to Justice by Ensuring Oversight and Quality Control in California’s Appointed Appellate Counsel System.
Announcements
LASC Now Accepts E-service of 8.340 Letters
Good news! Record letters for criminal cases and civil commitment appeals, may now be submitted by mail to the 5th floor, Attn: Noel Reyes, Court Operations Manager, Criminal Appeals Unit or emailed to: CriminalAppeals@lacourt.ca.gov. For dependency appeals, please send them to the appeals unit via email to: juvenileappeals@lacourt.ca.gov and for delinquency appeals, please send them to the appeals unit via email to: elkjuvenileappeals@lacourt.ca.gov.
Which “Facility” is Your Client Housed in at the CDCR
The CDCR Inmate Locator now lists multiple housing facilities within certain prisons. To determine which specific facility your client is housed in, the most reliable approach is to call the CDCR Inmate Locator number (below) and provide the client’s CDCR number. They will give you the appropriate mailing address by P.O. Box. Each P.O. Box corresponds to a specific facility within the institution. However, CDCR does not disclose the facility letter or number directly, so that information must be inferred based on the assigned P.O. Box.
- CDCRs Identification Unit – (916) 445-6713, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST
Upcoming MCLE Opportunities
New Defense Tool: RJA Disparity Screener (OSPD)
June 25, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Preseted by OSPD
- Learn about the OSPD’s RJA Disparity Screener set to launch on June 9.
Developed in collaboration with QSIDE, the screener allows any individual to anonymously input a conviction and sentence to determine if publicly available CDCR data may support a disparity argument under the Racial Justice Act (RJA). The screener is intended to provide data that can satisfy the low threshold for appointment of counsel under the RJA by generating a plain language report with visuals of each disparity found. This webinar will walk through use of the screener, including a demonstration of sample reports, and discuss how disparities are identified. Please join us to learn about this useful addition to the RJA litigation space!.
**1.0 hour of MCLE credit will be provided.**
Summer Internship Opportunities
CAP-LA is looking for rising 2L or 3L students with a strong interest in social justice, criminal defense, juvenile delinquency, or juvenile dependency law.
Up to four (4) summer interns in this 10-week, full-time internship will gain hands-on experience in appellate criminal defense and juvenile law. Working closely with staff attorneys, interns will review case records, draft legal memoranda, and contribute to active appellate cases, including writing an opening brief under supervision. The hybrid program includes in-person work at our downtown Los Angeles office and opportunities to observe both appellate and trial-level proceedings. This is an ideal opportunity for law students seeking practical experience in appellate work while deepening their understanding of the criminal justice and juvenile systems.
Applicants should have:
- Excellent legal research and writing skills,
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently,
- Ability to work collaboratively in a hybrid office environment, and
- Demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, indigent defense, and/or the rights of parents and children.
Attorneys Wanted
Join the Panel for Indigent Representation with Flexibility and Impact!
- Are you passionate about justice and ensuring fair legal representation for all?
- Are you a new attorney looking to start an appellate career with training opportunities and case assistance?
- Are you a seasoned attorney looking to shift gears and bring your expertise to a more flexible and fulfilling practice?
