Federal Defenders of San Diego

What Federal Defenders of San Diego does

Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. (FDSDI) is a private non-profit public benefit corporation, chartered in California in 1972, that serves as the Federal Community Defender Organization for the Southern District of California. The organization is appointed by federal courts to represent indigent persons accused of federal criminal offenses in San Diego and Imperial Counties, under statutory authority of 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. It operates from two offices — a headquarters in downtown San Diego (225 Broadway Ste 900) and a branch in El Centro — and is staffed by 130+ personnel including 60+ trial attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists, interpreters, paralegals, and administrative staff. The current Executive Director is Kasha K. Castillo, who has led the office since 2021, and the organization is governed by a nine-member volunteer Board of Directors.

FDSDI's core offering is direct federal criminal defense representation across trial, appellate, and habeas proceedings, with a caseload dominated by drug offenses, immigration violations, alien smuggling, firearms, fraud, and sex trafficking — a mix heavily shaped by the office's proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. Beyond representation, FDSDI publishes the three-volume "Defending a Federal Criminal Case" (DFCC) practitioner reference (37 chapters in the 2023 edition) and operates the CJA Motion Bank, a password-protected resource for Criminal Justice Act panel attorneys nationwide. It also runs MCLE-eligible community training programs, an annual CJA seminar, and the annual Defender Dinner recognition event. The organization is bilingual, with a full Spanish-language website and a Chief Interpreter supervising a 10-person interpreter team.

Funding comes entirely from a Congressional sustaining grant under the Criminal Justice Act, reported at approximately $25 million annually for FY2021, with no fee-for-service revenue, client billing, or commercial sales channel. Services are provided at no cost to qualifying indigent defendants. The go-to-market is purely institutional — cases are received through court appointment, and the organization's broader influence is built through training, publication, and the annual Defender Dinner, rather than through any commercial sales motion.

Name

Federal Defenders of San Diego

Legal name

Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.

Website

https://fdsdi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. is a non-profit Federal Community Defender Organization that provides court-appointed federal criminal defense representation to indigent defendants in the Southern District of California, funded by a Congressional grant under the Criminal Justice Act.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Criminal Defense Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAAAN

Criminal Defense

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

Keywords

• Federal criminal defense
• Indigent defense services
• Appellate advocacy
• Criminal justice representation
• Legal aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Congressional Appropriation - Criminal Justice Act: FDSDI is funded by a sustaining grant awarded by Congress under the Criminal Justice Act. The organization is independent from the local federal judiciary and receives approximately $25 million annually (FY2021). Revenue is derived entirely from federal appropriations designated for indigent defense, not from client fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Federal Defenders of San Diego is the Federal Community Defender Organization for the Southern District of California, appointed by federal courts to represent indigent persons accused of federal criminal offenses. It delivers trial, appellate, and habeas representation across drug, immigration, fraud, firearms, assault, and other federal charges, supported by investigators, interpreters, mitigation specialists, and paralegals. The organization also publishes the DFCC practice guide, operates the CJA Motion Bank, and provides MCLE-eligible training for CJA panel attorneys.

Product overview

Federal Defenders of San Diego is a legal services organization providing federal criminal defense representation as its core offering. The organization operates primarily through a team of over 60 trial attorneys supported by investigators, interpreters, and paralegals. Its product portfolio includes direct legal representation services, the CJA Motion Bank (a password-protected resource for CJA panel attorneys), and community training programs. Additionally, the organization publishes the Defending a Federal Criminal Case (DFCC), a three-volume comprehensive reference guide for federal criminal defense practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Federal Criminal Defense Representation Court-appointed legal representation services for indigent persons accused of federal criminal offenses in the Southern District of California, including trial representation, appellate advocacy, and habeas proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2241, covering drug offenses, immigration violations, alien smuggling, bank robbery, fraud, counterfeiting, assault, firearms, sex trafficking, and other federal charges.
• Defending a Federal Criminal Case (DFCC) A three-volume comprehensive legal reference guide for federal criminal defense attorneys, providing authoritative analysis on federal criminal law, practice guidance from bail hearing through trial and appeal to post-conviction remedies, and insider tips on navigating federal cases; available in hardcover, eBook, and downloadable formats.
• CJA Motion Bank A password-protected online repository providing CJA panel attorneys access to up-to-date motions on federal criminal court practice issues, training materials, and informative handouts on jury selection practices.
• Community Training Programs Free training programs for criminal defense practitioners on federal trial practice and substantive federal law, including MCLE credit-eligible sessions, Saturday training sessions, weekday sessions on new developments, and the Annual CJA Seminar.

Quantifiable outcome

• Established 1966, serving San Diego and Imperial Counties for nearly 60 years
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Federal Defenders of San Diego