Scott, Gowdy Introduce Federal Defender Ex-Officio Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Congressman Trey Gowdy (SC-04) introduced H.R. 1251, the Federal Defender Ex-Officio Act in the House of Representatives.

This bill would add a non-voting Federal Defender representative to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. Currently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has two non-voting representatives, but the Federal Defenders lack even one, despite the sizable number of defendants in federal criminal proceedings represented by Federal Public Defender organizations. In 2012, federal prosecutors filed cases against 94,121 defendants. In that same period, Federal Defender organizations opened 86,142 criminal representations—not including appeals, revocation proceedings, and motions to reduce sentence.

Rep. Scott: "Our federal sentencing commission is among a tiny—and shrinking—minority of sentencing commissions that do not have a representative from the public defender system or the defense bar. The majority of state sentencing commissions have a public defender representative to provide them with advice and input at crucial stages of the decision-making process. From an evidence-based and justice reinvestment perspective, the addition of a non-voting Federal Defender representative is the right thing to do."

Rep. Gowdy: "This legislation improves transparency and accountability in sentencing policy and provides the Commission with perspective and balance from the non-voting Federal Defender representative. Rounding out the Commission with this new representative will help ensure the guidelines are proportional, rational, and effective and will improve public safety."

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