The Center for Death Penalty Litigation is a North Carolina nonprofit law firm representing people facing the death penalty and other extreme sentences. We expose and confront racism within the criminal punishment system. Through strategic litigation, education, training, and policy reform, we strive to create a more humane and equitable society. Sign up for our email bulletins, connect with us on Linked In, and follow us on Instagram (@centerfordeathpenaltylit) to stay up to date on what’s happening!
What’s New
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The Fair Trial Initiative lives on at CDPL
We hope you’ve heard by now that CDPL’s Osborn Event is coming up on September 23 in Durham. We want to be sure you also know that, in addition to presenting the Arc of Justice Award to Adam Stein, we’ll be honoring an innovative organization that forever changed indigent defense in North Carolina. The Fair Trial Initiative was founded 25 years ago this year, and its legacy lives on at CDPL.
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Another CDPL client leaves death row
Last week, CDPL experienced the joy of knowing that one of its clients will never be executed. Frank Chambers, who was sentenced to death in 1994, in a deeply racist and unjust trial, was resentenced August 11 to life in prison. While the evidence of misconduct in Mr. Chambers trial was glaring, it took decades of advocacy to achieve this result.
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Honoring Adam Stein, who taught us to be unflinching in the face of injustice
Please join us on Wednesday, September 23, to celebrate the career of Adam Stein, who is the recipient of CDPL’s 2026 Arc of Justice Award. This award recognizes Adam’s pioneering work in capital defense, which fundamentally shaped the work we do today, as well as his powerful advocacy for civil rights across the South. Long before many others, Adam saw that the death penalty is fundamentally intertwined with segregation and racist violence.
Support our Work
Help us provide the best possible representation to people facing execution and educate the public about the injustice and racist roots of the death penalty. Donate here. Or sign up here to get updates about our work.
Join the Movement
CDPL is a member of the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. If you want to be a part of the grassroots movement to end the NC death penalty, please visit their website to learn and get involved.
Intern or Volunteer
Do you want to learn about capital defense while working alongside a dedicated staff? We will open applications for Fall 2026 externships early 2026!