CDPL Public Information Director Gerda Stein with former CDPL client Henry McCollum, who was exonerated after 30 years on death row
The Center for Death Penalty Litigation is a non-profit law firm that represents people on North Carolina’s death row and serves as a clearinghouse for accurate and timely information about the North Carolina death penalty. Our attorneys also offer their expertise to represent some non-capital clients in North Carolina. CDPL’s commitment to representing indigent and disadvantaged defendants just as vigorously as corporate lawyers defend their highest-paying clients has saved the lives of many who faced execution. CDPL’s longstanding credibility with decision-makers, the public, and the media has made us the primary source of information on capital punishment in the state.
In addition to serving our own clients, CDPL is a resource center for attorneys who practice capital litigation across the state. CDPL also spearheads litigation, such as the Racial Justice Act, that addresses systemic injustices. CDPL has been a leading force in dramatically reducing the number of executions in North Carolina, and has cast light on the arbitrariness and unfairness of our state’s capital punishment system. We believe that ending the unjust and inhumane death penalty is a crucial piece of criminal justice reform in North Carolina.
CDPL is a model for multifaceted, collaborative advocacy, and is fortunate to partner with two national capital punishment reform organizations. The 8th Amendment Project is leading the movement to end the death penalty, and the Powell Project is ensuring adequate representation and fair trials in capital cases across the country.
