Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Florida

Students in the Capital Habeas Unit (“CHU”) of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Florida will assist the attorneys and investigative professionals in obtaining federal post-conviction relief for individuals who have been convicted of a capital crime in Florida. Responsibilities include assisting attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists with all aspects of legal and factual development and case preparation. Tasks include researching and writing on capital litigation issues, participating in case strategy sessions, requesting records and documents, drafting legal memoranda, compiling detailed chronologies of information, examining, analyzing, and researching records and issues, and participating in witness and client interviews alongside investigative professionals and attorneys. Students will also have opportunities to help draft filings or portions of filings for petitions of writ of habeas corpus, appellate briefs, or petitions for writs of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court and write memoranda on specific legal issues, including topics such as ineffective assistance of counsel, timeliness issues in federal court, or Florida law specific issues.