SIXTH DISTRICT APPELLATE PROGRAM Information

The Sixth District Appellate Program (SDAP) is a non-profit law firm contracted with the Judicial Council to provide court appointed legal representation to indigent clients in criminal, juvenile, and dependency appeals before the Sixth District Court of Appeal, which covers Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. SDAP recruits and supervises a panel of experienced appellate attorneys who zealously advocate for their clients in hundreds of appeals every year. SDAP’s attitude toward the representation of indigents is that expressed in Von Moltke v. Gillies (1948) 332 U.S. 708: “Undivided allegiance and faithful, devoted service to a client are prized traditions of the American lawyer. It is this kind of service for which the Sixth Amendment makes provision. And nowhere is this service deemed more honorable than in case of appointment to represent an accused too poor to hire a lawyer, even though the accused may be a member of an unpopular or hated group, or may be charged with an offense which is peculiarly abhorrent.” (Id., at pp. 725-726, fn. omitted.) SDAP's Executive Director is Jonathan Grossman, and Anna L. Stuart is the Assistant Director.